Written answers

Thursday, 15 May 2014

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Air Services Provision

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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267. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the seeking of tenders for flights on the Kerry-Dublin route; when he expects further progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22017/14]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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This question relates to the Public Service Obligation (PSO) air services Scheme, which includes the Kerry/Dublin route, the contracts for which end in November this year.

The programme on regional airports post 2014 is currently being developed in my Department. This will reflect the recommendations arising out of the published IWA Knock Study Group, which are being incorporated into the draft National Aviation Policy and must also comply with the revised EU Guidelines on State-Aid recently adopted by the European Commission. No decisions have yet been made in respect of future PSO supports for the Kerry - Dublin or any other route at this stage.

It is intended that a PSO tender competition for the Kerry/Dublin and the Donegal/Dublin services for 2015 will be organised later this year. As you will appreciate, my Department cannot write a blank cheque and the final decision on whether or not to maintain PSO supports will only be taken when the outcome of the tender process is known.

There is only a limited budget of some €12m per annum available for the Regional Airports Programme post 2014, with an average cost per annum for the two PSO routes from Kerry and Donegal of over €7.5m, based on existing figures. Best use of that limited budget must be made in the context of maintaining and developing the regional airports.

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