Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Transport his assessment of expected passenger throughput at each of the national and international airports in the current year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18327/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 217: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has issued policy directions in respect of the operation of any, all or none, of the national or regional airports throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18330/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 218: To ask the Minister for Transport the extent to which he plans to apply a particular or specific policy to the operation of each of the national and regional airports throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18331/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 214, 217 and 218 together.

In the first 3 months of the year, passenger traffic across the 3 State Airports has fallen by about 16% overall. I understand that the DAA believe that the downward trend is expected to be less severe for the rest of the year subject to some uncertainty arising from unforeseen closures relating to the volcanic ash emergency.

As to Government policy relating to the operation of the State Airports, I have deferred until 2011 any decision relating to the separation of Cork and Shannon airports under the State Airports Act, 2004. In the case of the regional airports I expect that a forthcoming Value for Money review of regional airports will assist me in evaluating the appropriate scale of a regional airports programme in the future bearing in mind my aviation policy objectives, improved surface transport links and the need to address the difficulties with our public finances.

I have not issued any recent policy directions to the State or regional airports as regards their operation.