Seanad debates

Friday, 19 December 2008

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages

 

4:00 pm

Photo of Pearse DohertyPearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

I thank the Minister of State for the clarification on the points I raised. There is a lack of public transport in the areas where smaller regional airports are located. There are no other options, so people use the small airports quite regularly. The Donegal to Dublin connection is in reality being subjected to a €4 levy, rather than a €2 levy. If a person leaves Dublin to go to Barcelona or wherever, the charge is €10 because the person is not levied on the way back. If somebody is travelling to Dublin from Donegal for business, or to go to hospital or go shopping, the return flight will also be levied, which means the levy is €4. Therefore, that is excessive and the Government should have waived this for the smaller regional airports in order to give them a head start.

In April 2007, the Government announced an €86 million package for smaller regional airports as part of the national development plan. We heard two months ago that such funding has now been postponed. These airports are being starved, yet the passenger numbers continue to increase, so the Minister is introducing a regressive step here.

There is much good work being done by voluntary groups and by the airlines in helping to transfer patients to hospitals in Dublin for 15 minutes of therapy, before flying them back to their native counties. Cancer patients cannot sit in a car for a nine hour return trip in order to undergo their treatment. They have been able to reduce the costs between the airline and between the voluntary organisation that has fundraised on their behalf.

I note the Minister of State spoke about exemptions, including disabled persons. However, I assume that disabled persons do not include cancer patients requiring treatment. We have often heard about the cancer care facilities in the north west, and I know the Government is pressing ahead with the Minister in the North to develop a centre in the north west. In the absence of such a centre, the Government should support the initiative led by the regional airport and by the voluntary group and exempt cancer patients and the person accompanying him or her.

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