Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

607. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the impact on services the €1 million reduction in his Department's expenditure for regional airports will have on services in these airports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44571/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The €1m reduction identified in the Expenditure Report 2014 relates to current expenditure for Public Service Obligation (PSO) air services between Donegal/Dublin and Kerry/Dublin and for operational expenditure supports to regional airports where the costs of providing core airport services cannot be fully met by them.  

Payments for the PSO air services will not be affected as they are contractually committed up to November 2014.

The reduction in the allocation, and indeed a reduction in capital expenditure, must be considered in light of Government policy which is that the regional airports must work towards achieving viability. I have made this clear to the airports in question for some time now.

The Deputy will no doubt be aware that a Study Group is examining the position in relation to Knock Airport and that separately regional airports have provided inputs to the Aviation Policy review which is being undertaken in my Department.

These two bodies of work will assist me in assessing the impact of existing funding programmes on regional airports and in determining future policy in this regard. I expect to undertake further consultation on a draft Policy Statement in early 2014.