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.