Written answers

Wednesday, 29 September 2010

Department of Transport

Tourism Promotion

11:00 pm

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 849: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress to date in implementing the recommendations of the Shannon catchment area tourism and economic plan published in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32112/10]

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The purpose of the Economic & Tourism Development Plan for the Shannon catchment area was to present a focused Action Plan to assist the airport and the wider Mid-West region to adapt to new circumstances arising from the EU-US Open Skies Agreement, and the withdrawal of the Shannon Heathrow service by Aer Lingus in 2007.

A key component of the Plan is a focused tourism-marketing programme introduced by the Minister for Arts Sports and Tourism to promote the wider Shannon catchment area. I refer the Deputy to the reply to PQ 32111/10 of today from my colleague Mary Hanafin TD, for an update on the progress to date in the tourism marketing area.

Regarding the transport elements of the Plan, significant progress has been made since the report was published in January 2008. Aer Lingus has reinstated its Shannon Heathrow service and daily connectivity from Shannon to the US has been maintained, despite the ending of the Shannon-stop rule and the dramatic fall in consumer demand for air travel generally.

I am of course very conscious that Shannon Airport is going through challenging times in dealing with the downturn in the aviation sector that is having a negative impact on passenger throughput in the airport. As part of its commercial remit, the Shannon Airport Authority, in conjunction with the Dublin Airport Authority is responsible for addressing this issue. I have no specific responsibility for this matter but I know that both bodies are very proactive in this regard and that incentives are in place to encourage more traffic to and from the airport.

The Economic & Tourism Development Plan also highlighted a number of road investment projects for the region. As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme element of Transport 21. The construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads, including those listed in the Shannon Economic & Tourism Development Plan, is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Acts 1993 and 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

Once the major Interurban Routes, which includes the M7 Dublin/Limerick motorway, are completed by the end of 2010, the NRA will focus on the completion of the Atlantic Road Corridor (ARC). The ARC will run from Letterkenny to Cork and Waterford via Limerick. The Ennis bypass, completed in early 2008, forms part of this route. The Crusheen to Gort phase is under construction at present. Further details are available from the NRA.

The Western Rail Corridor (Ennis-Athenry) re-opened at the end of March 2010.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.