Airport Parking Ireland: Knock Airport

THE reality is that Ireland West Airport Knock is surviving on its carpark charges.
That is the stark picture painted by Charlestown Cllr Gerry Murray at yesterday’s county council meeting where Knock airport’s future was hotly debated.
“If the Government can find €86 million for men in suits that created another quango [Irish Water], surely to god they can find €100 million for Knock Airport,” argued Cllr Murray.
He was speaking in the context of the recent study group report, published in December, on the airport. Chaired by Deputy John O’Mahony, the study groups key recommendation that Exchequer funding be extended to regional airports for another ten years has already been accepted by the Government.
Fianna Fáil’s Cllr Al McDonnell – who lobbied for the subject of the airport to be included on the agenda – has called on the Taoiseach to provide €3.5 million each year over a ten-year period. The study group concluded that €36 million would secure the future of the airport.

Cllr McDonnell obeserved: “In 2012 Minister Varadkar said that unless government policy was changed Knock Airport would pass out Shannon. So then the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan provided a €100 million write-off for it and a €10 million guarantee each year,” Cllr McDonnell said.
Fine Gael Cllr Joe Mellett said that the Government ‘has given Knock €9 million since 2011 and had abolished travel tax and, moreover, that ‘three new routes are to be introduced at the airport’.

“I would also hope that the county council would set some monies aside for Knock in the 2015 budget and I call on other county councils in the region to set aside some monies and for the County Secretary to write to them regarding this,” he said, echoing a recommendation in the report.
Responding, Cllr Murray said: “Can you imagine Minister Noonan going into Shannon and saying now lads you have to be self-sufficient within five years.”
In an earlier statement, Cllr Murray argued: “A major investment package for Knock must include a write-down of all existing debts, as happened at Shannon. It must also include a capital investment of €100 million to ensure the airport becomes a major development and transport hub for the entire region. An annual Government subvention and a scheme of commercial incentives must also be included.
“Shannon has received a whole range of commercial incentives and if Knock does not receive something similar, it will not be able to compete for similar investments and job opportunities,” he added.

Mayo News Aine Ryan

Airport Parking Ireland

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