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THIS week’s National Development Plan has promised that more support will be made available to Shannon Airport going forward. “In line with the 2015 ‘National Aviation Policy for Ireland’, Cork and Shannon Airports will continue to be supported in their roles as key tourism and business gateways for their regions, particularly with regard to the development of niche markets,” the report stated. It said that Shannon may soon be able to access funding that up until now was reserved for smaller competitors. “Airports that facilitate international connectivity, and handle less than 1 million annual passengers, are eligible to apply for grant aid under the new 2021 – 2025 Programme. “Eligible airports include Donegal, Kerry and Ireland West (Knock). However, given the impacts of Covid on passenger numbers, Shannon and Cork airports are likely to be eligible for funding under this Programme in 2022 and potentially 2023.” It also said that aviation will be encouraged to wean itself off fossil fuels. …

THIS year’s Budget has been labelled ‘a giveaway’, though it appears most of the concessions by the government are modest ones. If not that, then they are so thinly spread as to make little difference to anyone. In the area of personal taxation, in an income tax package worth close to €520 million, the standard rate band will increase by €1,500 and will also see the increase of each of the personal tax credits, employee tax credits and earned income credits by €50. Meanwhile, a full-time worker on the minimum wage will remain outside the top rates of the Universal Social Charge and the ceiling of the second USC rate band will be increased from €20,687 to €21,295. Workers will be able to earn €36,800 before hitting the top rate of income tax, up from €35,300. Also, the income tax credits to rise by €50.#Budget2022. — Charlie Weston (@CWeston_Indo) October 12, 2021 The exemption from the top rate of USC …

A FURTHER expansion of the Medical Assessment Unit (MAU) in Ennis Hospital is underway with a staff recruitment process ongoing, writes Jessica Quinn. A non-consultant hospital doctor, clerical staff member, and additional members of staff in cardiology services are in situ, while three additional nursing staff are scheduled to take up their posts within the next fortnight. Additional resources in allied health, general support and radiology are also at various stages of an ongoing recruitment process, the HSE confirmed in a response to representations made on the matter by Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara. “The first phase of the expansion was effected in December 2020 with four additional slots being provided from Monday to Friday,” said Deputy McNamara. “Once the personnel that are currently being recruited are in place, the HSE says it will be in a position to increase the number of weekly slots in the MAU by a further 32 between Monday and Friday and 20 at weekends …

IN a statement Lufthansa Technik Shannon Ltd (LTSL) have acknowledged that its sale to Atlantic Aviation Group will result in job lossess. “The acquisition of LTSL by Atlantic Aviation Group will secure approximately 300 jobs. While the final numbers are still approximate, it is proposed that over 300 roles will be secured at LTSL, while approximately 180 roles are at risk of redundancy. The consultation process around the proposed redundancies will commence over the coming weeks,” it said. Pat Shine, CEO and MD of Lufthansa Technik Shannon Ltd. (LTSL) said: “The severe impact of the Covid-19 pandemic led to an extensive strategic review of the business to determine its future. Every option was explored, the priority being to protect the maximum number of jobs and the specialist experience of the LTSL workforce. The sale of LTSL to AAG, a company that understands our business and has a strategy for growth through acquisition, presented itself as the most viable solution to …

SOURCES have this morning said that 180 jobs will be shed at Lufthansa Technik Shannon, following its acquisition by Atlantic Aviation Group. It is also understood that an existing hangar at its premises will not be operated by the company following the sale. While news of the transaction has been welcomed in some quarters this morning, there will be significant job losses, and it is understood that there is a lot of uncertainty facing staff following a briefing they were given by their employer earlier today. Clare TD Michael McNamara said clarification is needed on the future of all existing full-time jobs at Lufthansa Technik Shannon as well as the retention of the two existing aviation hangars in Shannon. Mr McNamara said he would be seeking answers from management of Lufthansa Technik Shannon Ltd and Atlantic Aviation Group when he attends a briefing on the acquisition tomorrow morning. The independent TD praised the employees of Lufthansa Technik Shannon Ltd. He …

AN inspirational Clare woman is lending her love of sea swimming to a fundraising drive to raise €50,000 for the most vulnerable in our community. Mid West Simon Community has teamed up with Clare’s June Curtin for the initiative with June committing to three swims a day for three weeks in December to raise money for the charity. As founder of Snamhaí Sásta, June is no stranger to the icy cold waters of Spanish Point, but building on her successful fundraising campaign last year, she has upped the ante this year by committing to a total of 63 swims, between December 1 and December 21. June and her community of happy swimmers have been meeting at Spanish Point every day since 2019 and it has been the catalyst towards helping many maintain their mental health. View this post on Instagram A post shared by June Curtin (@snamhaisasta) “Swimming has helped me immensely over the past two years,” said June, “and …

LOCAL company Atlantic Aviation Group (AAG) announced today that it has acquired Lufthansa Technik Shannon. The future of Lufthansa Technik Shannon had been in doubt for a number of months as a strategic review of the business was ongoing, which was followed by a sale process. It is not immediately clear what impact there will be on jobs in Shannon. While AAG released a statement this morning in which it stated that 300 Lufthansa Technik Staff would be joining AAG, there were 505 people working there in 2020. In this morning’s statement AAG said the deal “will bring AAG’s total workforce to approximately 740 people across sites in Shannon and Brize Norton in the UK. For the remainder of 2021, both companies will focus on transition planning with the aim to have a smooth integration in early 2022. The deal is subject to approval from the LHT Supervisory Board, and the terms of the sale will remain confidential.” It claimed …

STATE-OF-THE ART new facilities are to come on stream at Raheen Community Hospital by the middle of next year, according to Clare’s Independent TD. Scariff’s Deputy Michael McNamara told The Champion he has received confirmation from the Health Service Executive (HSE) that the proposed new build ward extension at the Tuamgraney facility will be fully operational during the second quarter of 2022. “The first phase of the works commenced in March and involved the relocation of the existing plant and boiler house which was sited on the footprint of the new build,” he said. “The HSE has informed me that these works have been completed and that work on the 420m2 extension to the new build is underway.” The additional unit will involve a number of new long-stay facilities. “The project includes the provision of seven long-stay replacement beds as part of an extension which will reduce the density of beds in the long stay wards and address deficiencies identified …