John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for Transport the changes in support for regional air services from mid-2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47149/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The estimates published on 7 December 2010 show that there is a reduction of €5.5 million in the estimate for regional airports current expenditure in 2011 as against the 2010 estimate. This reduction relates to the curtailment of public service contracts for air services. The current Public Service Obligation (PSO) contracts for services linking Dublin Airport with the regional airports at Derry, Donegal, Sligo, Ireland West Airport Knock, Galway and Kerry Airports commenced on 22 July 2008 and are due to expire on 21 July 2011.

The Deputy will be aware of the Value for Money (VFM) Review of Exchequer Expenditure on the regional airports programme was recently completed.The review was carried out to assist me in evaluating the appropriate scale of a regional airports programme in future years bearing in mind aviation policy objectives, the updated EU legislation, the improved surface links under the NDP and Transport 21 and the need to address the difficulties with our public finances. The Review is being considered by Government and it is intended that it will be published shortly. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on any likely PSO scheme beyond 2011 in advance of the Government decision in the matter.