Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 262: To ask the Minister for Transport the situation in relation to the future of Cork Airport; if the business plan which the board of Cork Airport was required to prepare and submit to him provided for the disposal of the land to the west of the airport which according to the Scott, Wilson, Kilpatrick report should be retained and protected in order that the short runway could be extended if the need arose in the future; and his views on the business plan as proposed. [46317/08]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 267: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will report on the cost of all reports undertaken by his Department in relation to the proposed break-up of the three airports at Shannon, Cork and Dublin since the introduction of the State Airports Bill 2004, to date in 2008; if consultant reports were commissioned; the cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46411/08]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 268: To ask the Minister for Transport his plans for the future operation of the three airports at Shannon, Cork and Dublin; if the break-up is being put on hold; the implications of this decision for the future financial and operational requirements of all three airports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46412/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 262, 267 and 268 together.

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.

All three airport business plans have to be coordinated by the Dublin Airport Authority for eventual approval by myself and the Minister for Finance. 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 now received business plans from each of the state airports and I have been in consultation with the three Airport Authorities concerning the approach to the separation of Cork and Shannon having regard to the current economic climate and trends in the aviation market generally. I hope to announce the outcome of those consultations shortly. I do not propose to comment on details of the Cork plan at this stage.

Earlier this year I appointed Peter Cassells Consultants to mediate on the issue of the Cork Airport debt. The report prepared for this purpose cost €30,250. The boards of the Dublin and Cork Airport Authorities accepted the outcome of this report.