Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has received the revised Cork Airport business plan; if not, when he expects to receive the business plan; if he expects the full separation of Cork, Dublin and Shannon Airports to go ahead; the level of debt he expects to assign to each airport; if he will provide State financial assistance to either Cork, Dublin or Shannon Airport to manage their debt levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23320/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The State Airports Act, 2004 provides the framework for the establishment of Shannon and Cork as independent airports. As part of the airport restructuring process the boards of Cork and Shannon airport are required to prepare business plans for eventual separation.

Draft business plans for Cork and Shannon were submitted to the DAA at the end of last year and subsequently forwarded to me with DAA's commentary. Consideration of the draft Cork business plan led to the Cassells report which was the outcome of dialogue with the Dublin Airport Authority and the Cork Airport Authority.

Following on from acceptance of the Cassells report by the Board of CAA in April last, a process of engagement has commenced with all the relevant parties on its implementation. It is my intention to proceed to effect the full separation of the three State airports, as set out in the State Airports Act 2004.

This process involves the preparation of revised business plans, taking account of the Cassells' recommendations in the case of Cork. In due course, the business plans will be submitted to me and the Minister for Finance for approval as regards the financial and operational readiness of the airports. As this process has not yet been completed, I do not propose to comment in detail on the specific issues raised by the Deputy. However, I would emphasise that it remains Government policy that the State Airports should operate to a commercial mandate without exchequer financial assistance.