Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 144: To ask the Minister for Transport the individual contracts awarded to airline companies to provide scheduled air services on the six public service obligation regional air routes; the level of subsidy per passenger which applies to each of these six air routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21706/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Contracts for the provision of regional air services on PSO routes were recently awarded following an EU procurement process.

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.

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, in respect of each route would be calculated as follows: Derry — Dublin, €78; Donegal — Dublin, €62; Sligo — Dublin, €51; Knock — Dublin, €87; Galway — Dublin, €37; and Kerry — Dublin, €28.

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 continuation of Government support for regional air services will have a very positive impact on regional development through increased economic activity, tourism and employment.