Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
2164. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to utilise Cork Airport for extra flights in view of the fact that Dublin Airport is near capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32586/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2165. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has recently reviewed the possible independence of Cork Airport from the DAA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32587/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2164 and 2165 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, the daa is the body charged with statutory responsibility to manage, operate and develop Dublin and Cork Airports. In these circumstances, any plans to utilise Cork Airport for extra flights is a matter for daa and Cork Airport management, and is not a matter in which I have a direct role.
It is also important to note that decisions in relation to specific routes and services are an operational matter at the discretion of airlines. While aviation policy facilitates and encourages increased connectivity and routes at all of our airports, the decision to operate any particular service, and between which pair of airports, is ultimately a commercial decision for airline companies.
Current policy in relation to the future of Cork Airport was decided by Government in May, 2012 in the context of the decision that year to separate Shannon Airport from the daa. At that time, the Government decided 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.
Thanks to the efforts of management and staff to deliver new routes and services, there has been a 3.5% growth in passenger numbers at Cork for the first half of this year which follows 3.5% growth last year and over 7% in the previous year.
It is also Government policy that, should it make financial sense in the future for Cork Airport and the daa, separation could take place and the necessary legislative mechanism was established in the State Airports Act 2004 (as amended). This is reflected in the National Aviation Policy published in August 2015 which also provides that the position of Cork Airport will be reviewed again in 2019 in the context of the overall review of the ownership and operational structure of all State airports.
