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CORK AND SHANNON airports could be privatised in the near future after a new report into their viability was commissioned by transport minister Leo Varadkar.
The loss-making airports could also be leased or run under a concession arrangement under proposals to separate them from the Dublin Airport Authority. At present, both Cork and Shannon have their own boards but only limited autonomy from the DAA.
Varadkar said yesterday that there was “great merit” in separation of the airports, and that all options were under consideration. A study will be carried out by consultants Booz and Company to provide “wide ranging advice” on the airports’ future.
Speaking on RTÉ’s This Week, the minister said that Cork is losing between €10million and €14million a year, with Shannon’s annual losses around €8million.
“In the past that was sustainable because the profits from Dublin [airport] were sufficient to cover that, and the profits from Aer Rianta,” he said, adding that that was no longer a viable arrangement.
He said “concession options, lease options [and] potential privatisation” were all under consideration.
Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey welcomed the initiative, saying that changes were necessary at Shannon. “For far too long Shannon Airport has been on a spiral of decline. The governance model is not working,” he said.
It was previously proposed that all three airports would be run as separate semi-State organisations. However, it’s understood this is no longer seen as an option.
The consultants are due to submit their report later this year.
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Keep it up! You’re doing fantastic fair play to you x
Keep up the good work Murph. You are my daughters favourite Operation Transformation leader.
Oh murph…… Can I, eh, have your autograph….. It’s….. Eh….. For my ‘daughter’. Thanks. Oh….. And any chance of a selfie too… Yeah my, eh, ‘daughter’ would love that…. And a hug?
Well done I recently joined slimming world and I’m down 1.7 stone so I know how he feels well done again
Great work, keep it up. Love hearing your story
Seriously.
Who cares?
It’s good to see people sorting themselves out but why do we commend people for eating properly and exercising. Instead we should be harder on those that don’t.
Arseh*le
well said Oran and Uncle.. people dont like to hear the obvious, soon we will hear well done for getting out of bed.. The 6.20am here, and I am having breakfast, then off to gym.. Wheres my gold star??
I care – because (I) I’ve enough empathy to want people (whether I know them or not to be happy) (2) every less obese person is less strain on the health system and (3) it is unusual for someone once they put the weight off to keep it off, so anyone inspiring others to do the same benefits us all.
Fair play murph.
Last year we had gay marriage. This year we have fat people losing weight. I can’t wait for 2017 !
I know what that fella eats for breakfast.
f******* sick of this operation transformation shite……………..its their own fault they end up obese in the first place
Good man keep up the good work
The meals look really tasty actually! I need some variety with my food! I always just end up making a stirfry when I’m trying to eat well which I get bored off and that’s when I end up having a bit of a pig-out! I follow the Bodycoach on Facebook and Instagram and he often posts meal ideas that look quick and tasty .. I have yet to try them out though.
That picture reminds me of the movie stuck on you
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