Cutbacks to supports for airports condemned

PLANS to cut the cash support for regional airports have been criticised as failing to recognise the value of air access to isolated areas.

Transport Minister Noel Dempsey will soon bring a memo to the cabinet on the future of the Public Service Obligation (PSO) funding for the six regional airports and the designated airlines which serve them.

This memo has been prepared on the basis of a value-for-money report on the €17 million-a-year funding to prop up routes to Kerry, Waterford, Ireland West [Knock], Galway, Waterford and Donegal.

Policy analyst for the Western Development Commission Pauline White said it had been in discussions with the department throughout the year on the PSO issue. She said the commission believed international access to the west of Ireland was of vital importance and the PSO should be retained.

Ms White said any other incentive allowed under European Union rules should be explored to see how the regional airport infrastructure could be supported.

“We believe the PSO should be retained and, if there are other forms of start-up aid permitted, they should be looked at.”

The department indicated improved roads to the regions had negated the need for the air travel subsidy.

Motorways link Galway and Waterford to Dublin and there have been improvements to stretches of the N3 and N4. Some sections of the Atlantic Corridor have progressed and a rail link has opened between Limerick and Galway.

However, Ms White said, while there had been road improvements, there was still a dearth of dual carriageways and development north of Galway.

Labour Party transport spokesman Joe Costello said the PSO represented good value for money and withdrawing it would hurt airlines, airports and local communities in the regions.

“The PSO to the regional airports amounts to €15m annually. This compares favourable to the €350m that is given to rail and bus services annually in the form of PSO.

“The regional airports provide vital links to different parts of the country especially to the west and north-west which still lacks a proper road network. The closure or severe reduction of services to airports like Kerry and Sligo will have a very detrimental effect on many areas of the regional economy, including trade and manufacture as well as the vital tourism sector.”

Galway Airport has conducted a business survey in the region to support its case for the retention of the PSO funding. This reported that for 80% of businesses, accessibility was an essential part of their decision to locate in the west.