Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 184: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the various State supports for each of the airports throughout the country can be reviewed collectively with a view to an endeavour to retain a reasonable quality of service throughout; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19215/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 185: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport notwithstanding the current economic situation, the degree to which an economic evaluation has been done into the running costs and or requirements in respect of the various regional airports throughout the country; if he will enter into discussions with the relevant authorities with a view to maintaining sufficient services to ensure that the various regions are not unnecessarily disadvantaged in the current economic crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19216/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 185 together.

A Value for Money (VFM) Review on Exchequer Support for the Regional Airports Programme has already been completed and was published by the previous Government last January. Its purpose was to evaluate past Exchequer expenditure against the Regional Airports Programme objectives and to examine the scope for achieving those objectives more efficiently and effectively in the future. The Review assessed all the regional airports throughout the country. It recommended that funding for the PSO air services between Dublin and the regional airports at Sligo, Ireland West (Knock), Galway, Kerry and Derry be discontinued when current contracts end in July 2011 and that operational and capital expenditure funding be discontinued for Sligo and Galway airports.

These recommendations took into account changes in EU legislation, airport performances, the substantial investment in surface transport, overlapping catchment areas, the requirement to make best use of scarce Exchequer resources, and the implications for the regional tourism and business sectors.

In the circumstances, I have no plans to have further cost benefit assessments carried out in relation to the regional airports. Moreover, the recent decision taken by this Government on funding for the regional airports is broadly in line with the Review's recommendations.

In that regard, I have secured Government approval for additional funding to be made available to all six regional airports in 2011, including Galway and Sligo, reversing the cut in funding made by the last Government. However, I will not be able to provide operational or capital funding to Galway or Sligo airports from 2012 onwards.

This decision is necessary to make best use of scarce Exchequer resources and to ensure the efficient use of taxpayers' money. The Government is aware of the implications for both Galway and Sligo Airports in making this decision. Clearly, in the current economic difficulties, it is not business as usual and unpopular decisions must be made. I believe that in continuing to support the other four regional airports beyond 2011, we will ensure that Ireland has a sufficient network of regional airports, while taking into account significant improvement in the road network, short journey times by road and rail and the reduction in passengers flying domestically. The combination of improved surface transport, together with a more consolidated air service network to the regional airports and the three State airports, provides the necessary transport access to underpin Ireland's economic recovery and sustainable development into the future.

I would urge Galway and Sligo Airports, as privately owned entities, to use the opportunity provided by the additional funding in 2011 to engage with various parties, including business interests, investors and local authorities, to secure their ongoing viability in some form. My Department will work with those airports over the coming months to ensure the close out of Exchequer support in an orderly way.