Airport boss is keen to foster regional growth
Joe Gilmore, managing director, Ireland West Airport. Picture: Michael McLaughlin
The managing director of Ireland West Airport has called for the development of a full motorway along the country’s western seaboard, as well as the reopening of the rail network.
Joe Gilmore said he would like to see strong focus during the lifetime of the new government on addressing regional imbalance.
Mr Gilmore, who previously worked in the Netherlands, said he has always been impressed by the Dutch’s model of transport development and believes a similar approach could work here.
“We still have massive opportunity to develop and grow the entire western seaboard. I would be a strong advocate for having a motorway all along the western seaboard from Cork up to Derry, I think that should be a given,” he said.
“Likewise on rail. We had a rail connection in Claremorris to Sligo and that should definitely be put back in place. It would regenerate so many towns, Kiltimagh, Swinford, Coolooney and into Sligo.
“I would love to see the motorway extended from Tuam to Sligo initially and then all the way to Derry. It is a 50-year investment and if the rail line was done as well, it would regenerate whole areas.”
Mr Gilmore said he is a strong advocate for these developments as he believe they would ease ‘congestion’ on the east coast, thereby benefiting the rest of the country.
“We shouldn’t be apologetic about expecting that. It’ll benefit the whole country and ease the congestion on the east coast.
“There is a whole debate around Dublin Airport and the passenger cap but I think the focus needs to be put on rebalancing the profile and economic development of the country.”
Mr Gilmore said he is also hoping to see progress on Ireland West Airport's strategic development zone (SDZ), a proposed business and enterprise hub to be located on a land bank near the airport. Last August, Dominick Healy was appointed as project manager of the planned SDZ.
“We are pleased that the Government supported funding for a project manager to update and develop the masterplan that is already in place and we are hopeful the new Minister for Enterprise Alan Dillon will get behind that as Dara Calleary did in that post to help us really drive it forward,” said Mr Gilmore.
“There is tremendous potential to create an economic hub here over the next 10-20 years to counterbalance regional imbalance in a positive way.
“The whole concept of the Atlantic Economic Corridor is still there and there is no reason it shouldn’t be put in place.”
