Carrickfinn Airport in west Donegal has been regularly voted one of the most spectacular and scenic airports in the world. Unfortunately, the service currently available to the public leaves a lot to be desired. There have been constant delays and cancellations of flights, sometimes without notice, which is worrying for people who depend on the service, particularly cancer sufferers who rely on it to access treatment in Dublin. Many patients cannot sit for long periods on bus journeys to attend clinics. The air service is vital for such people.

Service users are being told that flights are being cancelled due to technical issues. Are these issues that there are no staff to staff the flights or are substandard aircraft being used? The term "technical issues" needs to be explained. What are the technical issues the flights are encountering? Will the Taoiseach ask the Minister for Transport to intervene to see what the problem is and resolve it?

I thank the Deputy. Carrickfinn is an airport I have used on occasion. I know it is a valuable service for people in Donegal. It plays a genuine public service obligation, PSO, role. People use it to get to medical appointments in Dublin and things like that. I am glad we are able to continue to fund it.

I do not have a detailed response to give the Deputy. I am aware there are some difficulties but I am not aware of their cause. I will make sure that either the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, or the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, comes back to the Deputy on the issue.