Future of Aran Island flights is still up in the air
The continuation of flights between Aran Islands and the mainland remain up in the air this week.
Talks between the owners of Na Minna airport in Connemara and the Department of Gaeltacht are deadlocked as the July 15 deadline for the tendering process approaches.
Despite three and a half months of talks between both sides, agreement hasn’t been reached regarding the cost of using Minna airport.
Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs, Seán Kyne said until the issue of airport costs is determined, companies cannot tender for the service.
He said talks would continue but said they ‘cannot go on forever’. He hoped agreement could be reached before the existing contract for the service expires on September 30.
That contract has already been extended twice and the Attorney General has advised that it cannot be extended a third time.
Minister Kyne met with Galway West Oireachtas members in Dublin on Monday to appraise them of the situation.
Speaking to the Tribune this week he said he is hopeful a resolution can be found.
He said the process is complicated by the fact that there is only one airport, which is owned by a subsidiary of Aer Arann, who is likely to be bidding for the service.
The previous tender stipulated that Galway Airport in Carnmore could be used but that was shot-down by islanders, and the tender process went back to the drawing board.
Companies bidding to provide the new service want to make sure that the existing operator doesn’t have an unfair advantage in relation to the costs of using Minna.
He said he is hopeful a resolution could be found but said it hasn’t happened yet despite fourteen months of talks.
“Obviously we cannot have a situation where there is no air service for islanders. There has to be a resolution. I don’t know what that resolution is but the Department is engaging with the owner of the airport to try and achieve that resolution,” said Minister Kyne.
He said he has no preferred provider, and all he wants to ensure is the people of Aran continue to have a service.
Minister Kyne said the long-term solution – whereby the State buys out Minna airport – could be looked at in the future but that won’t happen before September 30.
“It could be looked at but I’ve heard figures of €3.5 million being quoted and then there’s the operation costs and so on. It would solve the airport costs issue, and the competition but it’s not going to happen in the short-term,” he said.