Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for Transport the position in relation to the separation of the three State airports of Dublin, Shannon and Cork under the State Airports Act 2004; and the timeline for the competition of the process. [39076/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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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.