Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 323: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on whether there are too many commercial airports in operation here; if there are plans to reduce the number of public sector obligation routes at the regional airports here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36907/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The number, location and size of commercial airports must be assessed by reference to overall aviation policy objectives and the costs and benefits of exchequer support for regional airports in particular. Our major aviation policy objective is to promote regular, safe, cost effective and competitive air services linking the country with key business and tourism markets. The sustainable development of the three State Airports of Dublin, Cork and Shannon is a key aspect of the implementation of this policy objective.

In addition the six smaller regional airports in Ireland (Ireland West Airport Knock; Kerry Airport; Waterford South East Regional Airport; Donegal Airport; Sligo Airport and Galway Airport) play a complementary role in promoting regional integration and encouraging inward investment and tourism by providing air access to the regions. The existing regional airports programme receives a range of exchequer assistance such as capital expenditure grants, operational subvention and compensation for the operation of Public Service Obligations (PSO) air services.

The current PSO contracts commenced on 22 July 2008 and run to 20 July 2011. The contracts have been awarded for services linking Dublin Airport with the regional airports at Derry, Donegal, Sligo, Ireland West Airport Knock, Galway and Kerry Airports. Under updated EU legislation governing these services, more stringent conditions will apply in the future having regard, for example, to the availability of other transport connections and especially rail services with a travelling time of three hours or less.

I expect that a Value for Money review of regional airports being carried out within my Department will assist me in evaluating the appropriate scale of a regional airports programme in the future bearing in mind my aviation policy objectives, the improved surface transport links under the NDP and Transport 21 and the need to address secure best value for the more limited Exchequer resources available.