John O’Mahony TD, who is the joint-chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications, this week handed over a report on the Ireland West Airport Knock to An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, and to Minister for the Environment, Leo Vardakar.
In January of this year O’Mahony was charged with chairing a study group that that would look into the future of Ireland West Airport Knock. After handing over the report Dep O’Mahony said: “The group, which met on a total of eight occasions, comprised representatives from a range of local and national interests including the airport board and management, Government departments, local business, State agencies and local authorities, and were assisted by Ernst & Young.” O’Mahony also said that he expected the details of the report to be made public in the coming weeks.
There was further good news this week for the popular regional airport, which has seen numbers flying in and out of the airport go up this year, when it was granted more that €600,000 under the OPEX scheme. In total the airport was granted €654,000 through the OPEX scheme which covers subventible losses made by regional airports. Those costs are incurred by providing the core airport services that can’t be funded from other sources or surpluses, and by non-core activities such as car parking charges or catering. Welcoming the news of the funding, Dep John O’Mahony said: “This is another good week for IWAK. The funding will copperfasten the airport’s standing as one of the most progressive in the country. I believe that this funding also proves just how committed the Government is to IWAK and how it is viewed as being pivotal in the development of transport infrastructure in this region.”
The news was also welcomed by his colleague Minister for State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring, who said: “This funding has been provided by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and I have no doubt that it will be welcomed by Ireland West Airport Knock board. The past year has been a very successful year for Ireland West Airport Knock and I have no doubt the airport will continue to progress into the future”
