Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 July 2012
98 Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he expects to have completed the process of separating Shannon from the Dublin Airport Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32135/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra136 Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of changes at Shannon Airport, the way he will ensure and facilitate adequate access and continuous development and improvement of tourism figures and the tourism product to the mid west and the west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32080/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra145 Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the restructuring of Shannon Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31652/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 98, 136 and 145 together.
As the Deputies will be aware, following the Government decision in principle on 8th May last to separate Shannon Airport from the Dublin Airport Authority and merge it with a restructured Shannon Development, I have, alongside my colleague the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, established a Steering Group of senior officials from five key Departments to bring forward proposals for the implementation of that decision.
As part of the restructuring of Shannon Development, the latter's functions in relation to enterprise supports, both for domestic companies and inward investment, will transfer to Enterprise Ireland and the IDA respectively while the agency's tourism functions, including Regional Tourism Offices, will transfer to Fáilte Ireland. These changes will bring a more integrated, streamlined and focussed discipline to the delivery of both enterprise support and tourism services in the region.
The Steering Group is being assisted by two Task Forces, the membership of which was announced last month. The Aviation Business Development Task Force will seek out and evaluate aviation-linked business opportunities that could be associated with the new merged entity while the Change Management Task Force will develop proposals for transitional arrangements and for the appropriate corporate, managerial and operational structures of the new entity, including matters related to IT, HR, Finance and property. This latter Task Force will also draw up proposals for the transfer of Shannon Development functions to the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and Fáilte Ireland.
In addition, arrangements are being put in place for consultation with other stakeholders, such as IBEC and ICTU with whom preliminary consultations have already taken place.
These groups are now up and running and I understand that they have already mapped out a busy schedule of work over the coming months to examine the range of issues that must be assessed in some detail in order to arrive at the best way forward for the new entity at Shannon. This will of course include examination of potential measures to maintain and improve access through the airport itself.
The two task forces have been asked to submit their proposals to the Steering Group in November this year and when those have been evaluated by the Group, both myself and Minister Bruton will revert to Government before the end of the year with detailed proposals including an implementation strategy for the merger.
