Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 34: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will provide details of the new contracts for the latest round of the State-subsidised public service obligation air routes to six regional airports; to state the price difference between the various bids for the routes; if he is satisfied with the level of transparency in the allocation of public service aviation routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21204/05]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 77: To ask the Minister for Transport the seat subvention on a flight on each of the internal schedules air services to Galway, Kerry, Sligo, Donegal, Knock and the city of Derry airport which are to be supported by new public service obligation contracts, which come into effect in July 2005. [21104/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 77 together.

Contracts for the operation of PSO air services for the next three-year term, commencing 22 July 2005, were recently announced. The successful proposals were selected following the completion of an open procurement process, which was conducted in full compliance with the relevant EU rules and regulations governing the award of PSO air service contracts.

Aer Arann has been awarded the contracts for the routes linking Dublin with the regional airports in Donegal, Sligo, Galway and Kerry. Loganair has been awarded the contract for air services on the Knock and Derry routes. Aer Arann will provide three daily return services on the Galway and Kerry routes and two daily return services on the Sligo and Donegal routes. Loganair will provide two daily return services on the Derry route and one return service each day on the Knock route. Scheduled departure times on all routes will continue to enable passengers, particularly business passengers, to make same-day return journeys. It remains open to the appointed air carriers to provide additional non-PSO services on the routes in question.

The total maximum contracted subvention for the three-year contract term for the provision of air services on all six routes is €45.8 million. Based on projected passenger numbers and the maximum subvention levels specified in the new contracts, the average subvention per passenger per flight on each route would be as follows: Derry-Dublin, €78; Donegal-Dublin, €62; Sligo-Dublin, €51; Knock-Dublin, €87; Galway-Dublin, €37; and Kerry-Dublin, €28.

With regard to the price difference between the bids received, information of that nature would be considered commercially sensitive by the various airlines concerned.

Both Loganair and Aer Arann have provided a high quality service under the PSO programme to date and I am confident this will continue under these new contracts. The proposed new timetables will provide convenient flight times for business travellers and tourists and continued growth in passenger numbers at the regional airports is anticipated. The continuation of Government support for regional air services will have a very positive impact on regional development through increased economic activity, tourism and employment.