Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I am replying to this matter on behalf of the Minister for Transport.

The State Airports Act 2004 provides the framework for the establishment of Shannon and Cork as independent airports. The Act provides, inter alia, that on dates to be confirmed, the Cork and Shannon Airport authorities may have the relevant airport assets vested in them and assume full responsibility for the management, development and operation of the airports, respectively. In the interim, the DAA board has transferred significant day to day operational responsibility, under delegated authority, to the boards of the Cork and Shannon Airport authorities. To progress restructuring, the boards are required to prepare business plans for eventual separation.

All three airport business plans have to be co-ordinated by the DAA for eventual approval by the Ministers for Transport and Finance. Among the requirements to be satisfied in advance of separation is the need to ensure the financial sustainability of all three State airports. The Minister has received business plans from all three airports and has been in consultation with the three airport authorities concerning the approach to the separation of Cork and Shannon Airports, having regard to the current economic climate and trends in the aviation market generally. He hopes to announce the outcome of those consultations shortly.

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