Sligo Airport safety funding
Deputy Harkin sought payment for essential safety works completed at Sligo Airport, which serves the coastguard. The Taoiseach said he understood the importance of the airport and would continue to engage with the Department on the matter.
This is my third time to raise the issue of payment of moneys to Sligo Airport for completed, essential safety works required by the Irish Aviation Authority. Since 2011, Sligo Airport has not received €1 of public money and yet it operates the busiest coastguard service in the country. At a meeting last December, which I and a number of public representatives attended, a mechanism was proposed whereby funding could be channelled to the airport for the cost of these essential safety works and subsequently Sligo Airport paid €280,000 for completion of these works. The money urgently needs to be recouped and I am hoping for a timely and positive response from the Taoiseach on this issue.
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Both she and Deputy MacSharry have raised this issue consistently and robustly for quite a while. I have spoken to the Minister, Deputy Ryan, in respect of this. I understand the importance of the Irish Coast Guard Service, the base in Sligo and the expenditure that the airport had to undertake and I will continue to engage with the Department in respect of this issue.