Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will investigate the prolonged process and delay in initiating the required upgrading of the main gateways from Cork and Limerick into County Kerry; and if he will expedite the public service contract for Kerry County Airport to facilitate ongoing service and regular daily flights to Dublin. [18669/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual national road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for the NRA in accordance with section 19 of the Roads Act. Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy's questions regarding road access to Kerry to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

As regards the public service obligation contract for the Kerry – Dublin air route, a tender process is currently underway following publication of the relevant notices in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 3 May 2011. In line with the EU guidelines, the process of renewal of a PSO takes a minimum of six months from the date the notices appear in the Official Journal. In accordance with this, my Department is working to ensure that the new PSO air service commences at the earliest opportunity in November 2011.