Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)

Dáil Éireann calls on the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to ensure his Department will provide €400,000 in aid for Sligo Airport to ensure this vital piece of infrastructure remains viable. I thank him for addressing this important issue for the people of the north west.

Since its foundation in 1974, Sligo Airport has been developed from an airstrip, effectively, to a commercial airport catering for up to 700,000 passengers. The recent decision to withdraw PSO funding is a dramatic blow that threatens the viability of the airport. As a key resource for Sligo, a gateway city in the national spatial strategy, the airport is an attraction when the IDA Ireland promotes Sligo as a location for foreign direct investment. Tourism growth is targeted by the Government, especially in the north-west region which lags behind others. Tourism potential will diminish if Sligo Airport ceases to operate.

Sligo Airport hosts the Coast Guard search and rescue service, medical organ transplant emergency flights, private commercial flights, Air Corps training and Government flights for a variety of Departments. The decision to withdraw from July the PSO subsidy will result in the ending of the daily Dublin to Sligo flights. It will have an immediate effect on staff and the finances of the operating company. I compliment the board and staff on their work. They have given value for money. A recent submission to the Department recommended that the decision be reviewed and that more cost effective ways of maintaining the route be examined. In recent contracts the cost of subvention has escalated and the board of Sligo Airport would welcome a review, as it would a more in-depth look at the overall programme.

Funding of €400,000 is required by Sligo Airport to ensure its continued operation. I urge the Minister to consider this level of subvention based purely on the cost-benefit analysis based on tourism growth, industrial investment and the use of the airport by emergency services. At the least, I urge the Minister to ask his officials to examine in detail the submission sent by Sligo airport before he closes the door on this issue.

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