Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Stobart Air ceased operating over the weekend and it was the operator of the public service obligation, PSO, routes from Dublin to Kerry and Donegal for Aer Lingus. Aer Lingus has stepped in to ensure the international routes are filled and we have now heard an Estonian airline has taken the Dublin to Kerry route but has left Donegal behind. We must ask how the Department was not aware of a potential problem in the first place. In addition, many people are now left without a service, and many of those were using Donegal airport to access connecting flights to get to work in England, for example. The most difficult situations of all are perhaps those of the cancer patients who depend on these flights to get their treatment in Dublin. The local cancer care committee had eight patients booked in for flights this week. Members of the committee are now going to travel with patients to ensure they get their treatments and they are not left alone. If only our Government had that kind of commitment to our citizens, we would not have been in this kind of situation in the first place. However, it is vital this situation is addressed now and a new operator is found for Donegal Airport.

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