Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 381: To ask the Minister for Transport the extent to which scheduled air transport services linking all the major towns and cities in Ireland is envisaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9448/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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In the EU there is an open skies policy in which airlines are free to operate what routes they choose, including domestic routes, provided they satisfy the necessary requirements.

The provision of scheduled air services between the major towns and cities in Ireland is essentially a matter for airlines, if they consider there would be a demand for a particular service on a particular route. This is not a matter in which I or my Department would normally be involved, except as regards public service obligation, PSO, air services. Member states of the EU are allowed to provide financial compensation for the operation of PSO air services to regional airports where it would not be economically viable for airlines to operate on a commercial basis. In 2005, I announced the award of contracts for the provision of PSO services from 2005 to 2008 on routes linking Dublin with the regional airports in Galway, Kerry, Sligo, Donegal, Knock and City of Derry. There are no plans to expand this programme as the existing network of PSO routes is sufficient for the air access needs of the regions concerned.

Ireland is adequately served by a network of airports, both international and regional. Furthermore, road and rail transport links between major towns and cities have improved significantly in recent years and further major improvements are planned as part of Transport 21.