John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 326: To ask the Minister for Transport his plans to extend the runway at Kerry Airport; the purpose of this extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28432/10]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 327: To ask the Minister for Transport his plans to promote Kerry Airport and generate more routes from same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28433/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 326 and 327 together.

Because of the difficulties with the public finances, I decided in July 2008 that insofar as development projects are concerned, expenditure under the regional airports Capital Expenditure Grant Scheme should be focused on project elements at the regional airports where the airports have already entered into contractual commitments. The provision in my Department's Vote to fund the capital expenditure grant scheme for all the Regional Airports in 2010 is €3 million. In April this year, based on the funds currently available within my Department's budget, I allocated grants for urgently required work to Donegal and Knock Airports and for the completion of projects which were contractually committed. Later this year, I intend to give further consideration to the overall capital funding in future years of projects at the Regional Airports, including the proposed runway end safety area project at Kerry Airport. This will be done in the context of a Value for Money review of regional airports which was recently submitted to me and which I am now considering.

Ireland's aviation policy as set out my Department's current Statement of Strategy is to promote regular, safe, cost effective and competitive air services linking the country with key business and tourism markets. Through a number of financial support mechanisms my Department seeks to facilitate, where practicable, the continued safe and viable operations at the airports, while also encouraging maximum commercial autonomy and initiatives by the airports concerned. It is a matter for each individual airport, including Kerry Airport, to optimise their services and promote them as they see fit.