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Galway Airport is an integral and vital support for the West of Ireland

02/10/2010

Press Release  

Tuesday October 12th 2010

Galway Airport is an integral and vital support for the West of Ireland

On October 5th last Galway Airport and the Galway Chamber of Commerce made a key presentation to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Innovation which is chaired by Willie Penrose TD and comprises of TD's and Senators from all parties.

Joe Walsh, Managing Director of Galway Airport, during his presentation strongly stressed how Galway Airport is playing its part in the local and regional economy as a critical piece of transport infrastructure supporting both the indigenous and international business sectors by facilitating both outbound and inbound access to and from international markets. Also he stated "the industrial composition of the Galway economy is unique among Irish cities in terms of the concentration of high technology industries and its extremely heavy dependence on internationally traded sectors and markets and that because of the airports' extensive access to international ‘hub' airports the airport continues to this day to be a key selling point in maintaining and attracting investment into the West region".

In summing up his presentation Mr. Walsh said that "Galway Airport recognises the constraints on Government expenditure but continuing support will be of critical importance to the airport to facilitate its role as a provider of vital services to multinational and indigenous companies in support of the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and Udaras na Gaeltachta in developing industry and also in support of Failte Ireland and the tourism industry, which remains key to the Galway region".

The direct employment associated with the airport in 2009 was 175 full time equivalent personnel, contributing in excess of €2 million in PAYE and PRSI to the Exchequer. Independent economic analysis suggests that the airport directly contributes €31 million annually to the region with the indirect impact associated with maintaining access to international markets being far greater.

On foot of the airports' presentation the Joint Oireachtas Committee proposed and passed a motion that called on the committee "to call upon the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Transport to ensure that adequate funding was provided to sustain the operations of Galway Airport as an integral and vital support for the economy of the West of Ireland".This motion will be conveyed to the two ministers by way of a letter from the Joint Oireachtas Committee.

ENDS

For further information contact: Michael Moloney, Marketing Manager, Galway Airport @ 086-6004288

 

 

 


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