The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
THE Shannon Airport Group has today been allocated €4.62 million in Government funding, announced today by Jack Chambers TD, Minister of State at the Department of Transport.
In total almost €17 million in exchequer funding for regional airports was announced by Minister Chambers at a media event held at Shannon Airport this morning.
Speaking at Shannon Airport, Minister Chambers commented: “I am pleased to be back in Shannon Airport today. Shannon Airport is the State’s third busiest airport, welcoming over 1.5 million passengers last year, which represents an 88% recovery on 2019 passenger traffic. I am delighted to hear that the airport is well on track for another busy year in 2023. Already this year, the number of passengers travelling through Shannon Airport during January and February were up by 21% and 17% respectively compared to the same periods in 2019. This demonstrates the effective delivery of services, by the dedicated staff and management team who deliver for passengers on a daily basis, in meeting the extremely strong demand for international travel.
, “I am delighted to announce this funding today, which will support significant airfield rehabilitation works at Shannon Airport this year, as well as three new passenger airbridges. This will bring the number of new airbridges supported by way of Exchequer funding at Shannon Airport to six since 2021. Security screening equipment upgrades are also being supported, along with the continued support for water supply system upgrade works. Continuing to assist Shannon Airport in transitioning to a low carbon economy, support for the replacement of four airport operational vehicles with electric vehicles is being provided. This builds on the seven safety, security and operational vehicles already replaced at the airport by way of Exchequer funding in the past two years.”
Mary Considine, CEO of The Shannon Airport Group, said, ““We warmly welcome today’s announcement by Minister Chambers of capital funding of over €4.6 million under the Regional Airports Programme. This demonstrates the Government’s commitment to supporting the region’s connectivity and the broader economic benefits this brings to the region.
“The capital funding announced today will support the ongoing programme of replacement of our passenger airbridges, essential airfield rehabilitation works and other projects as we continue to rebuild post-Covid.”
Shannon is to receive €2.25 million for an Airport Rehabiliation Project. It will get €1,368,750 for the continuation of an airbridge replacement programme and €450,000 for the continuation of a water supply system upgrade. There will also be €158,736 for the replacement of four airport vehicles with new electric vehicles, and €396,000 for security screening equpiment upgrades.
Owen Ryan
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked for a number of other regional titles in Limerick, Galway and Cork.
