This article is from page 17 of the 2011-11-29 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 17 JPG
RATEPAYERS in both Clare and Limerick would gladly stump up the cash to help “redevelop their own airport” that would be independent of Dublin Airport Authority interference.
That’s the claim made by local Fine Gael deputy Joe Carey, as he identified hard-pressed ratepayers as a source of investment for Shannon as part of a broader vision to put the airport on a sound financial footing for the future.
As part of this radical blueprint submitted to Shannon Airport customs, Deputy Carey has said that both local and national government investment should be a pre-requisite for the future, even though Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar has revealed that “no more government money” will be pumped into the ailing airport.
“While recognising the critical financial constraints placed on government, the new entity govern- ing Shannon Airport will require Government support,” says Deputy Carey.
“The strongest expression of that support will be the putting in place of the appropriate structures. The new entity will have to be managed in a way that will in a relatively short time allow it to cover its own costs, however, in the short term it may well be that Government financial support will be necessary.
“The exchequer in the short term may well be required to contribute to both capital investment and working capital requirements. The cost here are miniscule in a national context – e.g. the necessary expenditure on the Bunratty/Latoon section of road development would keep Shannon operational for the next 30 years.
“It would not be unreasonable for any such funding requirement to be generated from a Local Government Contribution.
“This could be generated by a ringfenced contribution from the current local rate (local rate payers are cur- rently greatly burdened but I believe the ratepayers of Clare and Limerick would gladly commit a contribution to redevelop their own airport).
“In discussing the matter with local business people, I have been told that a vibrant busy airport generates up to 25 per cent extra turnover in particularly the tourism service industry.
“It is critical, in that the only way that the funding models cited can be successful is if Shannon Airport is locally owned and run,” adds Deputy Carey.