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Chairman of Ireland West Airport Knock thanks region’s public representatives for making representations to the Minister for Transport in relation to securing grant aid for the Airport to subvent its significant operational costs in running the Airport

The Airport welcomes the decision by Minister Dempsey to allocate €285k in grant aid to the Airport under the 2009 Core Operational Expenditure Scheme.

Ireland West Airport Knock is pleased to have been allocated €285k of grant funding towards subventing the significant operational costs of running the airport, following an application made to the Department of Transport earlier this year.

Speaking on the announcement, Liam Scollan, Chairman (Ireland West Airport Knock) said: “On behalf of the Board, management and staff of the Airport, I wish to thank all the local and regional public representatives who specifically made representations to the Minister for Transport on the Airport’s behalf. Such solidarity across all parties on behalf of the region’s airport is most welcome and it has borne fruit even in these difficult times.”

Joe Gilmore, Managing Director (Ireland West Airport Knock) added: “While we are not an airport that wishes to be dependant on grant aid, this allocation will be particularly helpful as the business enters a difficult and challenging winter period, with projected losses forecast.”

Liam ended by saying: “The Airport has made huge strides to cut costs, grow income, expand and add value to the economy. It is a core public service for the region, run with minimal cost to the public purse, and therefore this vital support from the Exchequer is a welcome sign of acknowledgement of the work being done to continue to provide and improve air access to and from the West, North West and Midlands regions of Ireland.”