Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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1300. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on airline companies response to zero travel tax; and if he has communicated with all airlines regarding future expansion of routes of our international and regional airports. [47122/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The zero rate travel tax initiative is part of a process aimed at generating new airline routes into Ireland and will come into effect from April 2014. There has been a positive response to the initiative from airlines so far with Ryanair and Aer Lingus Regional both announcing details of new routes and increased services from Dublin, Shannon, Cork and Knock.

I would like to see further announcements of this kind from other airlines. More flights into Ireland at more locations will mean more visitors from oversees, and a bigger tourism dividend. The airports and Tourism Ireland have attractive incentive and marketing programmes available which will help support new services and build on the success of The Gathering in the months ahead.