Funding is required to upgrade “outdated” passport control facilities at Shannon Airport to protect the public and staff, the county’s first citizen has said.
In a proposal before a sitting of Clare County Council, Cathaoirleach of the local authority, Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) asked that a request be put before the Minister for Transport, Climate, Environment and Communications, Eamon Ryan (GP) and the Minister for Finance, Pascal Donohoe (FG) to “provide funding to upgrade passport control facilities at Shannon Airport to bring them up
to modern days standards.”
“Anybody lucky enough to travel through Shannon Airport will have noticed the passport facilities are a bit out of date with COVID, there is no protection for the travelling public or the people operating passport control there,” Cllr Ryan stated.
His proposal was seconded by Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) while Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) also offered his support. “Hopefully we will have full flights flying in and out and with transatlantic back on stream next year, I would like to welcome Mr Ó Céidigh, at long last we have a person who knows aviation and has general respect across the board, he has plans into the future, a west of Ireland and Galway man which is a huge bonus. Shannon is lucky to get a guy of such high calibre,” McMahon commented.
Over a fortnight ago, a new €2.5m security screening system was unveiled at Shannon Airport. Time spent going through passenger security screening at the International Airport is to be halved due to the state of the art facility which will allow up to 550 passengers be facilitated per hour at the four different security lanes which is double the previous capacity. The works form part of a €17m programme underway at the Airport.
