Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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330. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of the PSO, public service obligation, air tender service between Donegal and Dublin and Kerry and Dublin; the dates the current PSO contracts were awarded and to which airline; the expiry date of the current PSO contract; the daily service frequency timetable from Monday to Sunday; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17079/17]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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331. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details for the annual passenger numbers carried, average annual fare and annual PSO payments for each route from 2014 to 2016 in counties Donegal and Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17080/17]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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332. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to renew the PSO air tender services for Donegal-Dublin and Kerry-Dublin on expiration of the current tender period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17081/17]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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333. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are other PSO air tender routes being considered by his department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17082/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 330 to 333, inclusive, together.

The Public Service Obligation, PSO, air services regime operates in accordance with EU Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1008/2008.

The current contract to provide PSO air services between Dublin and the airports in Donegal and Kerry was awarded to Stobart Air and signed on 23 December 2014 following an EU public procurement process conducted by my Department. This three-year contract operates from 1 February 2015 until 31 January 2018 and provides for two daily return flights on each route.  The daily timetables are available on the airports' websites donegalairport.ieandkerryairport.ie.

It is an EU requirement that the continuing justification for any PSO services is reviewed prior to tendering again for such services and my Department is aiming to conduct this review by mid-year. Subject to the outcome of that review, the tender process will commence in the second half of the year to ensure continuity of services in 2018. There are no proposals to establish PSO air services on any additional routes.

Details of annual passenger numbers and PSO contractual payments from 2014 to 2016 are provided in the table below.

The PSO contract provides that at least 80% of the contracted minimum daily seat capacity on each route be available at a fare, inclusive of airport charges, not exceeding €80 each way.  Fares in relation to the balance of available seats may be determined by the carrier. 

Annual PSO Passenger Numbers

PSO Payments

¹One contract for both services. Figures are for first year of contract 1 February 2015 – 31 January 2016 and for second year of contract 1 February 2016 – 31 January 2017.

²Figures are for equivalent period in 2014, namely 1 February 2014 – 31 January 2015.