Written answers
Tuesday, 19 October 2010
Department of Transport
Regional Airports
9:00 am
John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 322: To ask the Minister for Transport the amount of funding under the public service obligation scheme paid in respect of routes from each of the regional airports in each year from 2005 to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37770/10]
John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 323: To ask the Minister for Transport the total operational subvention paid to each regional airport each year from 2005 to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37771/10]
John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 324: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will ensure that sufficient funding is available to Waterford Regional Airport to enable it continue in operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37772/10]
Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 322 to 324, inclusive, together.
PSO air services subvention is set out in the following table:
Contract Amounts, per contract year
| Jul 05 to Jul 06 | Jul 06 to Jul 07 | Jul 07 to Jul 08 | Jul 08 to Jul09 | Jul 09 to Jul10 | |
| Galway | €2,953,594 | €3,004,919 | €3,041,058 | €3,271,344 | €3,314,239 |
| Kerry | €3,013,556 | €3,003,493 | €3,008,433 | €1,750,000 | €1,750,000 |
| Sligo/Donegal | €4,966,108 | €5,157,252 | €5,403,422 | €5,378,689 | €5,639,552 |
| Knock/Derry | €3,895,112 | €4,083,235 | €4,287,719 | €3,837,595 | €4,336,276 |
| €14,828,370 | €15,248,899 | €15,740,632 | €14,237,628 | €15,040,067 |
The Sligo/Donegal and Knock/Derry routes are operated under a combined contract
Operational subvention is set out in the following table:
| Airport | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| € | € | € | € | € | |
| Donegal | 255,000 | 64,600 | 44,000 | 0 | 131,000 |
| Sligo | 255,000 | 231,200 | 9,000 | 0 | 313,000 |
| Knock | 400,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 445,000 |
| Galway | 280,000 | 677,848 | 859,000 | 1,200,000 | 962,000 |
| Kerry | 400,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Waterford | 650,000 | 687,685 | 1,352,000 | 1,540,000 | 1,494,000 |
| Total | 2,240,000 | 1,661,333 | 2,264,000 | 2,740,000 | 3,345,000 |
Payments for 2010 are not yet finalised.
With regard to the funding of Waterford Airport, because of a projected shortfall in the resources available to fund this scheme, after allowing for estimated requirements for the PSO Air Services Programme for 2010, the six Regional Airports were allocated operational subventions on a pro rata basis in July of this year with no airport getting the full amount it might otherwise expect. This allocation was in line with the OPEX contracts with the Airports.
However, I am very much aware that several events have impacted on the regional airports since this year's applications for funding were received and that payments at the reduced level have been causing difficulties for the Airports. To that end, my Department has been monitoring the position with management at each of the airports. In recognition of those difficulties, I have decided to provide additional funding for the Scheme for 2010.
All the Airports, including Waterford, have been invited to submit additional information in support of their applications for funding. This updated information will be re-assessed by the Department in accordance with the terms of the scheme and allocations will be made accordingly.
The Value for Money Review of Exchequer Expenditure on the Regional Airports Programme, including the OPEX Scheme, has been completed and is at present being considered by Government. It is expected that, in the light of that Review, decisions on funding for regional airports in future years will be made in the context of the Estimates and Budget process later this year.
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