Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

The amount in the budget for regional airports does not apply to Shannon and Cork Airports, which are State airports. The Shannon Airport Authority has submitted its plan and the Government could do nothing about restructuring until it was submitted. Discussions have taken place between the SAA and the DAA, with progress being made. If agreement is reached, the DAA will make a submission to the Government and the Minister for Finance and I will consider it. We will make a decision without undue delay. The same procedure applies to Cork. The CAA has to submit its business plan, which I think has been done. The DAA will then have a look at it.

There are two quite distinct issues involved for these airports. Shannon Airport is as it was, but there has been substantial investment in Cork in the past few years. Without taking the land into account, the assets there are valued at €360 million and the discussion has been about the wish of the CAA to be debt free. From the point of view of the DAA, there are huge investments that must be made in Dublin and it cannot agree to a plan which affects its financial status and business borrowing. The DAA must provide the facilities at Dublin Airport. I hope that both sides can come up with an agreement.

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