Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 540: To ask the Minister for Transport his proposals for the restructuring of the airport boards at Cork and Shannon Airports; his plans to abolish these boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30498/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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In December last, following the recommendations of the boards of the three State Airport Authorities, I announced the deferral until 2011 of a decision on the separation of the Airports under the State Airports Act, 2004 given the current very difficult circumstances in the aviation sector. I took the view at the time that it would be best to provide a reasonable period of time to enable the boards and management of these airports to address the very significant challenges facing the aviation market. New governance arrangements, which have now been agreed by the three Airport Authorities, will provide an opportunity for Cork and Shannon Airport to realise the potential provided by the very substantial investment in the airports in recent years. Given the agreement to defer a decision on final separation until 2011 the boards will stay in place until that decision is finalised.