Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 51: To ask the Minister for Transport the discussions he has had with his EU colleagues with respect to attracting new airlines and business to the Shannon region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25022/07]

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 56: To ask the Minister for Transport if his Department has examined the possibility of establishing a public service obligation for the Shannon-Heathrow route; if not, the grounds on which this option has been ruled out; if he has had discussions with his British counterpart in this regard; if he has decided to carry out any restructuring of his Department in view of the failure of his Department to inform him of Aer Lingus' decision to transfer Heathrow slots from Shannon to Belfast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32769/07]

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Transport if there have been further discussions or meetings with the Shannon Airport Authority regarding the decision of Aer Lingus to cease the Shannon-Heathrow service; the details of such discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32931/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 51, 56 and 57 together.

Responsibility for securing new services to an airport rest with the relevant Airport Authority. I have had no discussions with my EU colleagues as regards attracting new airlines and business to the Shannon region. Neither have I had discussions to date with my UK counterpart concerning the establishment of a PSO on the Shannon Heathrow route because such discussions would be premature. As to meetings and discussions with the Shannon Airport Authority, my Department maintains contact on the airport' development and continues to encourage commercial efforts to secure a replacement service through its hub incentive scheme.

Ireland already has an air services Public Service Obligation (PSO) scheme in operation. The scheme provides for the subvention of air services from Dublin to Kerry, Galway, Knock, Sligo, Donegal and Derry. These PSO routes serve regional airports that, because of their remote locations or limited runway facilities, find it difficult to attract commercial scheduled air services.

The relevant EU Council Regulation, (EEC) No. 2408/92 of 23 July 1992, allows a Member State to establish a PSO route in respect of scheduled air services to an airport serving a peripheral or development region in its territory, where such air services are considered vital for the economic development of the regions concerned and where air carriers are not prepared to provide them on a commercial basis. In addition, the Department is aware that there may be opportunities for State intervention under the Community Guidelines on Financing of Airports and Start up aid to Airlines departing from Regional Airports.

My Department has recently written to the EU Commission with a view to exploring what the options if any exist for facilitating the provision of air services to meet the connectivity requirements of the West of Ireland in a liberalised, competitive aviation market. My officials have requested an early meeting with the Commission on the matter. Following that meeting, my Department will be in a position to advise me on appropriate contacts with the British authorities. With regard to not being informed of the Aer Lingus decision to transfer Heathrow slots from Shannon to Belfast, this has been fully dealt with following the report of the Secretary General of my Department into the matter.