Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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666. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will visit Kerry Airport in the new year to see the immense benefits of the airport to County Kerry economy and the impact of positive Government policies towards the airport, including the retention of the PSO flight subsidy and other State support funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48174/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I am pleased that the supports provided by the Government to Kerry Airport under the 2011-2014 Regional Airport Programme, including the retention of the Kerry/Dublin PSO route, have had a positive impact on the Airport and I plan to visit each of the regional airports, including Kerry, in 2015.

A draft Regional Airports Programme for 2015 - 2019, to supersede the current Programme, has been submitted by Ireland to the EU Commission for consideration and discussions are currently taking place on the draft Programme as part of that consideration process. Following its approval, the overall supports that will be available to each of the four regional airports over the life of the new Programme will be identified.

As I anticipate that the Commission will approve the new Programme before the end of the year, I believe that my visits to the regional airports in 2015 will be both meaningful and timely.