‘Begging bowl’ remark as airport seeks significant investment
AN effort by Ireland West Airport Knock (IWAK) to get six local authorities in the region to make a significant investment in the facility ignited a ‘begging bowl’ row at a meeting of Mayo County Council.
After hearing a presentation from IWAK’s managing director, Joe Gilmore, requesting the joint investment, Fianna Fáil Councillor Al McDonnell recalled that last year, councillors had met in special session to discuss a financial crisis which threatened the airport’s future. Councillor McDonnell said he had been confident that a special committee set up at the time would come up with a viable plan.
He told Mr. Gilmore: “I did not anticipate you would be here today begging for a few bob from Mayo County Council. At the flick of a switch the government could find €100 million for Shannon Airport but could not find €8 million for Knock. It is a source of major disappointment to me that the money needed by Knock airport is not coming from the State.”
Other Fianna Fáil councillors, John Caulfield and Lisa Chambers, rowed in behind Councillor McDonnell. Due to government assistance, Shannon was now in a position to offer cheaper landing rates than Knock, Councillor Chambers claimed.
Sinn Féin Councillor Gerry Murray claimed it was ‘like extracting teeth’ to get funding (from the present government) for anything west of the Shannon. However, Councillor Jarlath Munnelly (FG) pointed out that Taoiseach Enda Kenny had set up a special commission, under the chairmanship of Deputy John O’Mahony, to look into the needs and future development of the airport.
Councillor Gerry Ginty (Independent), while praising a former Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, for his contribution to the construction of the airport, said he now thought the facility was being neglected by both of the main parties.
The board of IWAK, which now employs 150 staff, and is the fourth largest airport in Ireland, has set its sights on a throughput of 1.3 million passengers by 2023. IWAK has pledged to double overseas visitors to the west/northwest/midlands catchment area and double tourism revenue.
In recent weeks, airport executives, led by Mr. Gilmore, have been making presentations to local authorities in the region seeking investment in the airport. According to Mr. Gilmore, the initiative has met with a very positive response.
Councillors agreed in principle to an investment by the local authority in the airport. The exact overall contribution desired from the various local authorities was not revealed.