Possibility of global aid centre for Shannon

THE door is being left open for the possible development of a global logistics centre for humanitarian aid in Shannon, following an amendment made to the Draft Clare County Development Plan 2011-2017.
Such a centre would be a place where things like emergency food and medical supplies would be stored before being transported to a disaster zone after a major global emergency, for example a severe earthquake or a tsunami.
It’s being said that Shannon would be a good location for such a facility, with a large amount of space around the airport.
The possible provision of such a centre was included in the amended draft plan on foot of a submission made by Brian Byrne of Atlantic Way. In his working life, Mr Byrne is business development director with Shannon Global Aerozone and he said that while such a centre is still only at a conceptual stage, the Government are interested in it.
“We have been talking with senior politicians at Cabinet level about linking the facilities at the airport with the surrounding land. This would allow for the physical stockpiling of aid,” Mr Byrne said.
In the draft plan, it is stated that objectives include encouraging several initiatives for Shannon. It states that the development plan would “support the development of innovative initiatives that harness the potential of the airport including, but not exclusive to, a residential flight school, global logistics centre for humanitarian aid, unmanned aerospace systems and a centre for space collaboration and research co-operation.”
The plan also states the council would support separating Shannon from the Dublin Airport Authority.
“Clare County Council will encourage and support the achievement of autonomy of Shannon Airport and the full implementation of the State Airports Act of 2004.”
The newly amended draft plan, which sets out an overall vision for development in Clare, has been put on public display until November 3.
Other notable elements of it are a strategy to develop the economic and recreational potential of the Shannon Estuary and the pursuit of a flagship international scale tourism project for the county.
Mayor of Clare Christy Curtin said that there was a lot of thought going into the next development plan.
“The draft plan has been the subject of an extensive consultation process involving councillors, council planners and the general public over the last 18 months. A number of workshops were also held to further analyse and give comprehensive consideration to the issues raised by the public in relation to the draft plan. The public’s input into the drafting of this plan is of paramount importance to the planning authority and elected members in their consideration of the various elements of this plan,” Mayor Curtin said.