asked the Minister for Transport whether, arising out of his reply to a parliamentary question on 3 November 1981, he is aware of any study on economic viability and on potential traffic assessment which may have been carried out at any time in regard to the sites at Porthall, Bridgend and Big Isle which were being considered for the proposed airport in Donegal.

Selection of a site for the proposed airport was a matter for the Donegal County Council and it would be for that body to commission or carry out whatever studies they considered necessary for the purpose. I am not aware that any study of economic viability and potential traffic assessment has been carried out in regard to the sites mentioned.

Will the Minister state if his Department received a recommendation from Donegal County Council with regard to a site?

Donegal County Council were responsible for the selection and development of the site.

When did the Department receive the recommendation?

The general purposes committee of the council decided on 28 July 1980 that a survey should be carried out of the two areas suitable for an airstrip. It would have been some time after that. On 29 December 1980 Donegal County Council decided that an airport should be established at Big Isle.

Is the site the subject of a compulsory purchase order?

That would be a matter for the county council. I do not know the details of its acquisition.

I am calling the next question. I have allowed the Deputy a considerable number of supplementaries.

This refers to Donegal which is a particularly isolated part of the country.

For the information of the Deputy, I understand the council are proceeding to acquire some of the land compulsorily and some of it voluntarily.

After the question of the compulsory purchase order has been finalised, will the Minister state when it is hoped to commence the work?

I cannot give specific details on a timetable for this airport. I would point out that all that has been done so far is the selection of a site. A study of economic viability and potential traffic assessment has not been carried out. This is something that will have to be done.

Will the Minister not accept that from many points of view the provision of this airstrip is eminently desirable and would be advocated by the IDA? Will he, as Minister for Transport, take a personal interest in bringing this project to a successful conclusion in the interests of one of the most geographically disadvantaged areas, as Deputy Gallagher has pointed out?

As Minister for Transport naturally I am concerned to see that Donegal has adequate transport facilities. The question of the airport will be looked into. That will be one of the considerations to be taken into account. The Deputy might be interested to know that a substantial amount of the traffic generated for the Dublin-Derry service originates in Donegal.

I know all that.

Consequently, a second airport in Donegal might have an adverse effect on the existing airport in Derry. For the sake of relations between the two jurisdictions we would not want to do something that would be detrimental to what is now a satisfactory cross-Border situation.

As one who knows the situation intimately and uses both routes from time to time it would be inadvisable to proceed along that line of thinking. Everyone in that area who is interested in promoting regional development and cross-Border co-operation will be interested in the provision of an airstrip at Letterkenny and developing the Dublin-Derry air service through the Eglington airfield. There is no conflict of interest.

I made the point so that the Deputy can see the considerations which arise and which will have to be taken into account.

They have all been gone into.

I am afraid they have not. We should know exactly what we are about and we must be careful before we start excavating.

A shelving job.

Arising from the Minister's reply——

I am not allowing any more supplementaries.

I am trying to represent these people.

I am not allowing any more questions.

I wish to raise this matter on the Adjournment.

The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.