The Government is to hire consultants to study the business plans of the State's three airports.

The Department of Transport wants consultants to "review and analyse" the business plans prepared by the Dublin, Shannon and Cork airport authorities, set up under the State Airports Act 2004.

The consultants will then advise Minister for Finance Brian Cowen and Minister for Transport Martin Cullen on when the airports should finally be separated from each other.

The business plans are already controversial with a plan for Shannon suggesting that costs need to be seriously cut back.

The Shannon plan also envisages the eventual ending of the Shannon stopover.

The Dublin Airport Authority has found it difficult to complete its plan because of the uncertainty over the new terminal facilities.

There is also concern about the future for the Great Southern Hotel Group, which has reported four successive years of trading losses.

The consultants are not expected to advise directly on new terminal facilities for Dublin, although this issue may feature in the Dublin business plan.

The consultants will be asked to study the financial outlook for the Dublin Airport Authority "taking account of its obligations relating to restructuring under the State Airports Act".

The consultants will also advise the two Ministers on the specific steps set out in the business plans "in respect of the distribution of the assets of Cork and Shannon Airports and the timescales involved."

Meanwhile, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern yesterday said the Government was trying to do the right thing for the future of Dublin airport.

The Taoiseach said no decision had been made by the Cabinet yet, but once a decision was reached it would be released immediately.