THE new Coalition
Government will not reverse the decision to axe the
Public Service Obligation (PSO) subsidy for flights
from Derry to Dublin, according to Deputy Pádraig
MacLochlainn.
The Buncrana TD said Transport Minister Leo Varadkar
confirmed, following a Dáil question from him, that
he will not reverse the decision of the previous
Government to cut the route.
"The decision of the previous Government to remove
the PSO subsidy for the Derry to Dublin air-link was
shocking. This subsidy is very important to make the
route sustainable.
"Their defence of the cut - that rail and road
infrastructure connecting the two cities and regions
is at the required standard - was beyond belief."
The Sinn Féin TD added: "There is no rail link
connecting Dublin to Derry and North Donegal and the
A5 dual carriageway will not be constructed till
2015. To compare Derry to Galway in terms of links
to Dublin is mind-boggling. There is both a railway
and motorway connecting these two cities.
"I had hoped for a new approach from this Government
to the needs of North Donegal and the North West.
The response from Minister Varadkar appears to
herald more of the same. I will continue to
challenge this unjust and illogical decision. I
invite local FG and Labour TDs and councillors to
join me in that effort," he said. |
