Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 109: To ask the Minister for Transport if an investment of €29 million, which Ireland West Airport Knock requires for the period of 2005 to 2007 to meet essential infrastructural needs which would allow it to compete realistically with other international airports, will be made; if in view of the vast potential of this airport with the third longest runway in this country, he will make this investment awarding CAT.2 navigational status to this airport to enable landing in all weathers and faster turnaround time for aircraft due to increased apron space; if he will make this €15 million realistic financial investment in Ireland West Airport Knock in light of the pivotal role it would play in balanced regional development and in further light of the €3 billion underspend in the Border, midlands and west region and gross over-congestion at Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3601/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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A total of €100 million will be available for investment in development and safety related infrastructure in regional airports, including Knock, under the Transport 21 framework. As well as the continuation of grant assistance for essential safety and security capital expenditure, all six regional airports will be eligible for targeted investment where demand for additional air services can be demonstrated and where an economic case can be made to justify increased investment. A new grant scheme is being devised and all regional airports will be consulted by my Department before the revised grant scheme is finalised. Apart from capital investment, the regional airports will continue to benefit from a range of non-capital support measures, such as operational grant assistance and public service obligation, PSO, air services.

Officials from my Department are working closely with the management at Ireland West Airport Knock and the Irish Aviation Authority, IAA, to ascertain the precise scope of the infrastructure required to allow the airport to conform with all relevant safety standards as it develops into the future. Funding for runway safety improvements and enhanced navigational aids was provisionally approved under the national development plan in February 2005. Project specifications and costings in respect of the approved works are awaited from the airport. A final decision on the funding proposal cannot be made until the Department has an opportunity to consider the IAA approved specifications and thereby assess the relevant costings.

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. The difficulty arises when we consider the money invested in the other international airports. Ireland West Airport Knock is Ireland's fourth international airport and has the third longest runway. Therefore, its potential is massive. If the Minister looks at the map I have he will see that, annually, 6 million people go through Northern Ireland airports, in the east and the south 25 million people go through the airports, but in the west only 500,000 go through them. This demonstrates unbalanced regional development.

Knock airport would have great potential if it got some of the money that should have been given to it. If it got the Aer Rianta €3 per passenger, it would have got between €115 and €190 million in the past decade. However, it got €5 million. The Minister should consider the effect over the next three years of the €29 million investment the airport requires. The airport could have Cat. 2 status. Even on the day we celebrated fire engines arriving at Ireland West Airport Knock, aircraft had difficulty arriving because of weather conditions — they cannot land in all weathers. The airport lacks Cat. 2 navigational status which would make a major difference and would allow Ireland West Airport Knock to compete with other airports, which it cannot do at the moment.

The investment would allow an enlarged apron area. Aircraft and airbuses which can land at the airport cannot turn around quickly enough to suit the fast turnaround time their schedules require because of the lack of apron space. The airport also requires essential safety requirements and enlarged terminals. The airport has enormous potential because it serves 13 counties and is close to nine large urban centres or gateways.

I know the Minister cannot give a decision now, but is he well disposed towards allowing balanced regional development to occur? There is a €3.9 billion underspend in the BMW area. The population of the North is almost the same as that of the BMW area, yet 6 million people travel through Northern Ireland airports. People find it difficult to get in and out of Dublin, but €150 million will be spent on another terminal and other facilities there. Will the Minister commit to this investment and does he believe in the Government's commitment to balanced regional development?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this question. I am hugely committed to the development of airports, in particular regional airports. That is the reason I believe we need to secure funding, as I did — over €100 million — in Transport 21. The Minister for Finance is equally committed to regionalisation and our regional structures. We see airports as key to that.

I am happy to fund the projects outlined by the Deputy. In February 2005, I approved the moneys and costings for what is required on the technical side. Unfortunately, I have not got back the final proposals from the airport, which is not my fault. I want to spend a substantial amount of capital moneys on further enhancement. Knock airport has a big future and local and business communities have been correct in identifying that. We will work on that.

I wish to point out something that applies to all the airports. Because of the consequences of issues that arose from the Ryanair case regarding subventions and moneys and grants to regional airports, the European Union has issued stringent new rules on state aids which make matters difficult with regard to how Governments put moneys into airports. That said, I am confident we will be able to support the regional airports in Knock, Waterford, Kerry etc. I want to do that. I strongly believe in the spatial strategy and the benefits regional airports bring economically into regions, from both the business and tourism perspective. This can and will be done.

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Previous investment into Ireland West Airport Knock has related to safety. In other airports to the south and east investment has gone towards expanding the existing aprons rather than towards safety and security. I understand what the Minister said with regard to the European Union. Surely, however, with the deficit of €3.9 billion in the BMW area, with such an important catalyst and with such a low figure of only 500,000 passengers compared with 25 million in the south and east, there is a pressing case for Ireland West Airport Knock. Will the Minister put pressure on the European Union to ensure that the airport gets the money it deserves for balanced regional development?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I am ready, willing and able on behalf of the Government to invest in Knock airport. There is no issue between us. However, I need Knock airport to start drawing down what has already been approved in 2005 so that we can move to the next stage. A number of proposals have come from Knock airport from different groups. We are trying to co-ordinate these and get to the key points of investment in the airport, and we will do so. That is the reason I secured a specific funding arrangement in Transport 21 for regional airports. That sum is €100 million, which will have a substantial impact.

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Does the Minister agree that the developments I outlined are essential, the apron turning area and CAT.2 status, which will cut down diversions and allow aircraft to land?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I am not a technical expert, but in general these issues arise in regional airports. The more technical equipment on the capital side that we can put into an airport, the better the airport can function. That is what we want to do and I want to do that for Knock airport. There is no equivocation on Knock on my behalf.