Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 150: To ask the Minister for Transport the status of the business plan submitted by the Cork Airport Authority to the Dublin Airport Authority; if he has received a response from the DAA to the business plan; when he will make his views known on the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34905/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Under the State Airports Act, 2004 the boards of Cork and Shannon airport are required to prepare business plans for eventual separation.

All three airport business plans have to be coordinated by the Dublin Airport Authority for eventual approval by the Minister for Finance and myself. Among the requirements to be satisfied in advance of separation is the need to ensure the financial sustainability of all three State airports.

I have already received the Cork and Shannon business plans and I expect shortly to receive a finalised commentary on those plans by the DAA when they submit their own plan under the Act. I would expect DAA's commentary to address recent trends in the aviation market, the challenges facing the State airports and the financial and operational aspects of restructuring.