There has been criticism in the north west of the Government's decision to proceed with a new Donegal to Dublin Public Service Obligation (PSO) flight contract, that removes afternoon flights in favour of a new schedule, much to the angst of cancer care campaigners.
Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien confirmed the Department has proceeded with a new contract for the PSO service that will ensure a continuation of service from the 25 February. The current schedule will remain in place until 29 March.
The route currently operates most days with morning and afternoon departures from Donegal, and lunchtime and evening return flights from Dublin.
Donegal Airport previously told RTÉ News it became aware in mid-January that proposed timetable changes had been included in the airline’s tender submission.
The airport understands the proposed changes include morning departures from Donegal and Dublin and evening return flights from both locations.
Donegal Cancer Flights and Services expressed concern that the changes will cut off a "medical lifeline" and "genuine same-day access" for cancer patients and others.
The group helps cancer patients with booking flights, counselling support and other information.
Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty described the Government's decision to proceed with the contract as "a slap in the face to the people of Donegal".
Fianna Fáil's Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher, who also strongly criticised the decision, believes the decision increases the risk of delays and cancellations.
Minister O’Brien said the air route, will be kept under "weekly review", amid concern about impacts on cancer treatments.
The minister said there had to be independent public procurement processes and added that he wants to ensure that flights continue beyond the end of the existing contract.
He has committed to meeting representatives from Donegal Cancer Flights and Services but said he could not engage with them tomorrow as he will be in London.
Máire Uí Chomhaill from Donegal Cancer Flights and Services said they learned today that the contract has been signed and added they are extremely disappointed that their input was not sought as part of the procurement process.
"We, as a committee, are extremely disappointed. We will be travelling to Dublin tomorrow to meet Department officials. The minister is not available. Our belief is that this will not work.
"We are so annoyed that PSO money is being spent on flights coming down at 6.30am and return at 8.30am, people won’t be on those flights," she said.
The group fears early morning departures from Dublin are vulnerable to weather-related disruption and late evening return flights may force many patients to pay for overnight accommodation in Dublin.
"There has been no respect or compassion shown to patients flying to Dublin for diagnosis or treatment," Ms Uí Chomhaill said.
'Slap in the face to the people of Donegal'
Mr Doherty said: "What makes this decision even more disgraceful is that it was signed knowing that a delegation from Donegal was travelling to Dublin tomorrow to meet with the Government.
"That delegation represents over 500 cancer patients in Donegal. They were coming to hand over a petition signed by more than 15,000 people calling on the Government to protect this service," he said.
Mr Doherty added: "The Government didn’t even have the decency to meet with them before signing this contract. That shows a complete lack of respect for patients, their families and the wider Donegal public.
"For cancer patients, these flights are not a convenience, they are a lifeline.
"They reduce exhausting journeys, allow people to attend appointments and get home the same day, and ease pressure at an incredibly difficult time in their lives.
"Once again, Donegal is being treated as an afterthought by this Government, and people here are rightly furious."
Meanwhile, Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher strongly criticised the decision by the Department of Transport to proceed with the signing of contract.
Deputy Gallagher said the decision to sign off on the contract, despite widespread concern from patients, airport management, businesses, and public representatives, represents a failure to listen and a failure to protect essential regional connectivity.
"This contract is deeply flawed, and the decision to proceed with it in full knowledge of those flaws is deeply concerning.
"It reduces flexibility, weakens reliability, and removes services that are relied upon every day by cancer patients, those accessing vital medical services, students, businesses and tourism.
"Proceeding regardless shows a disturbing disconnect from the realities facing people in the north west," said Deputy Gallagher.
He also expressed serious concern about the removal of a Donegal-based aircraft, which he said, has underpinned the reliability of the service for more than 20 years.
He added the north west has no nearby Cancer Centre of Excellence and that PSO flights were originally introduced to offset the long distances people must travel in the absence of rail or motorway connections.
Mr Gallagher noted that the Department has stated it will closely monitor the performance of the new schedule.
He said this will involve weekly performance reports for the first three months of operation and following this, the Department review the schedule's reliability and consider whether changes are required.
Second daily flight has always operated around lunchtime - Donegal Airport
In a statement, Donegal Airport said: "Throughout the tender process the Department of Transport has cited confidentiality as a reason for not providing the airport with any information in regard to the proposed flight timetable, and we were only made aware of the proposal through rumours circulating amongst the airline staff.
"The PSO flights between Donegal and Dublin have been operating twice daily since 2004. For the duration of this time, the aircraft has overnighted at Donegal Airport, with the first departure to Dublin at around 8am. Aside from one previous three-year PSO contract operated by Loganair back around 2012, (where flights departed Donegal at 8am and then returned from Dublin at 9.25am) the second daily flight to Dublin has always operated around lunchtime.
"The PSO has never been operated with the aircraft based in Dublin for any contract since 2004 and we had no reason to believe that any airline operator would ever consider it commercially viable to operate a flight from Dublin to Donegal at 6.25am as the market for such a flight has never existed.
"In 2025, 48% of passengers used the lunchtime flights with 52% using the early morning to Dublin/late evening back from Dublin," added the statement.
A spokesperson for the Department of Transport said the contract has been awarded to Emerald Airlines.
The spokesperson said: "This new contract demonstrates the Government's continued commitment to maintaining vital connectivity to the northwest.
"These subsidised air services will provide people and businesses in the northwest with daily air links to Dublin, enabling access to medical appointments and other essential services, as well as onward international travel. The service also supports inward tourism and regional economic development.
"The early morning flight departing from Donegal and the evening return flight from Dublin, which is relied on by many, including critical care patients, to ensure a daily round trip to Dublin, will continue to be facilitated.
"In addition, under the new schedule which will commence on 29 March 2026, a same-day return service will now be available to passengers travelling from Dublin Airport. A new evening service from Donegal Airport will replace the afternoon service and the first departure from Dublin will commence at an earlier time which will facilitate a return daily service for passengers travelling from Dublin."
The spokesperson added that the Department "will closely monitor the performance of the new schedule".
