IWAK Chairman challenges Bord Snip report

IWAK Chairman challenges McCarthy report


THE Chairman of the Ireland West Airport Knock (IWAK) board Mr Liam Scollan, has called for a detailed assessment by Government of the viability of all regional airports prior to implementing any of the sweeping changes in Dr Colm McCarthy’s ‘An Bord Snip’ report.
He said it was incredible that the report focussed on insignificant funding interventions given to regional airports while failing to put the spotlight on the considerable level of State largesse provided to the State’s own regional airports, Shannon and Cork.
Mr Scollan said Shannon and Cork get free air-traffic control worth over €2.5 million per year respectively, €250 million of capital funding, Government funding to fight legal battles with airlines that challenge them, have State bodies like Bus Éireann supplying customers to their doors and receive millions of Euro of additional support in tourism funding aimed specifically at promoting their inbound routes from the UK and elsewhere.
“By contrast IWAK has received no operational aid from the government in the last three years, pays from its own resources for all services, including air traffic control,” he said.