Individual Post

 Sinn Féin Seanadóir Niall Ó Donnghaile has called on the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross TD, to meet with the Board of City of Derry Airport and to play an active role in supporting the airport.

Seanadóir Ó Donnghaile;

"Last week I met with representatives of the Board of the airport who are enthused and focused in their efforts to see it develop and grow. Recent investment by the Executive and ongoing financial support from Derry and Strabane District Council has seen major opportunities open up for route development and overall growth for the airport.

"I put it to Minister Patrick O’Donovan, who represented Shane Ross today, on the floor of the Seanad today that Derry’s airport is a fundamental national economic asset and must be afforded the modest support it requires in order to help bolster the economic outcomes for the Northwest Region and the rest of Ireland.

"The airport itself is ideally located between both the Wild Atlantic Way and the Northern Coastal Route and over 40% of the Airport’s passengers already come from Donegal. It makes economic and social sense that the Irish government would assist in efforts to see the airport flourish and grow. The net benefactor will of course be the Irish economy and people both north and south especially those living in the north-west.

"I welcome the commitment to meet with myself and my colleague Senator Pádraig Mac Lochlainn on this matter where we will raise the need for support for Derry airport and its many benefactors in Ireland’s tourism sector.”