An additional £3 million allocated in the Budget for capital works at five regional airports brings to £5 million the total package made available for such facilities during 1998. Its purpose is to help attract additional air services and to boost tourism.
Galway Airport is expected to benefit most from the allocation, but there will be significant aid for airports in Donegal, Knock, Sligo and Waterford.
"This funding will facilitate the completion in 1998 of essential upgrading of the infrastructure and facilities at these airports, thereby enhancing the prospects of attracting additional air services and tourism to these regions," said the Minister for Public Enterprise, Mrs O'Rourke. The chairman of Galway Airport, Mr John Coyle, described the allocation as "extremely satisfying" in view of the facility's urgent infrastructural needs. The airport board had submitted to the Government there was a requirement for £3 million to extend the runaway and upgrade navigational systems. This would be supplemented by up to £1 million raised locally.
The present operation was inadequate, he said, and there was a huge demand for an expanded facility from multi-national companies in the city, especially Boston Scientific, which recently announced a major expansion of its Galway plant. The current runway cannot cater for corporate and short-haul jets.
Allocations to other airports will be used to fund new lighting equipment and resurfacing of runways - Kerry Airport in Farranfore is the only facility not to benefit but it has received substantial funding in recent years.
Other regional capital works allocations will be concentrated on non-national roads, with total funding under this heading increased by £26 million to almost £204 million for 1998. County and regional roads will benefit from this allocation under the Restoration Programme for the Non-national Roads Network.
A spokesman for the Department of the Environment said the increased allocation meant the programme, which is going into its third year, is on schedule for completion within the 10 years initially projected. What each local authority area would receive is due to be announced early in the New Year.
The era of the "one stop shop" for local authorities is imminent with an initial allocation of £1 million for a pilot project next year. The public will be able to avail of a range of local government services including the payment of car tax at the one location. The scheme is due to be further extended in 1999.
