Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2015
604. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the loss of routes and reduction of services at Cork Airport in recent months; his plans to provide greater autonomy to Cork Airport to make commercial decisions to better enable it to compete with other airports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3753/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the DAA is the body charged with statutory responsibility to manage, operate and develop Dublin and Cork Airports. In these circumstances, responsibility for routes and services at Cork Airport are matters for DAA and Cork Airport management, and are not matters in which I have a direct role.
That said, I am very conscious of the importance of Cork Airport for business and tourism in the Cork region. I am also very aware of, and concerned about, the continuing decline in passenger numbers at the airport. It was because of this decline that the Cork Airport Development Council (CADC) was established under an initiative of my predecessor, with the intention of bringing key local stakeholders together to foster a common understanding of issues of concern, identify potential opportunities for growth and to address the operating performance of the airport.
In relation to the question of greater autonomy for Cork Airport it should be noted that policy in relation to the future of Cork Airport was decided by Government in May, 2012 in the context of the decision to separate Shannon Airport from DAA. The Government decided at that time that the existing ownership of Cork Airport by DAA would be maintained for the present. Since that decision, DAA has put in place arrangements for the airport to be run as a stand-alone business unit within the Company, properly resourced at management level locally. In addition, two of the members of DAA Board represent Cork, thereby ensuring that issues pertaining to Cork Airport are considered at the highest level.
The new management structure is now bedded down and Cork Airport, the DAA and the CADC are focusing their efforts on identifying new route markets and developing new services. Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland have already invested in developing tourism attractions in the region served by the airport and in generating positive publicity for those attractions. I would encourage Cork Airport to highlight its role as a gateway to the region and to work with stakeholders to develop and market the tourism product.
