• Additional €500,000 granted
• Route will now go from Donegal to Wexford

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Tourism and Aviation Cathal Crowe has welcomed the announcement of a further €500,000 to complete signage for the Irish leg of the EuroVelo cycling route.

The European-wide cycling tour already takes in Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Wexford and Waterford along with Clare and now, thanks to today’s funding announcement, will also traverse Co. Cork.

The Irish leg marks EuroVelo Route 1 – and is one of 19 routes across the continent, aimed at luring in cyclists to these countries and locations.

“EuroVelo 1 will really showcase Clare to the world at large, so I’m thrilled to see that this grant has been allocated to include Cork, thereby extending not only the length of the route here but also the possibilities for Irish tourism,” said Deputy Crowe.

“A quick Google search will show you that these routes cover some of the most breath-taking scenery in Europe in every country they take in – and I may be biased, but I truly believe that the Irish leg is up there with the best.

“The funding announced today will ensure that the Cork segment is fully signposted, thereby making sure that those who take the journey to complete the Irish section can do so safely.

“I also think the extension of the route will add to my argument that we, as a government, should be targeting the Tour de France with the aim of hosting a stage of this down the line.

“A combination of the Wild Atlantic Way and the EuroVelo 1 route could be used for the competition and this would, again, give us a magnificent chance to show our country off to the world.”

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• Airline chief appears before Oireachtas committee
• U-turn on closure of Shannon base unlikely

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Tourism and Aviation Cathal Crowe is calling on Aer Lingus to stop exploiting the taxpayer and their Shannon Airport staff members.

It follows the appearance of senior Aer Lingus officials before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport this morning, in which CEO Lynne Embleton said that while the airline is committed to connectivity from Shannon, there would be no consideration given to reverse the decision to permanently shut down the cabin crew base there.

“Aer Lingus’s decision to close the cabin crew base in Shannon Airport simply doesn’t make sense, despite what we were told today,” said Deputy Crowe.

“I’ve had staff members based out of Shannon tell me that it can cost up to €300,000 per annum to bus cabin crew of four down from Dublin, pay their overnight stay and travel allowances to staff flights, rather than have a few crew members based here in Shannon.

“I’ve called on Aer Lingus to reverse this decision but have been told that the decision is final.

“However, because of the taxpayer’s contribution to the running of the airline over the past 15 months, we need more than the empty promise of a commitment to connectivity.

“Today, I held up a redacted payslip from a Shannon worker to show Ms Embleton and her team.

“In a fortnight, this particular worker received just over €638 in salary – the government, in other words the taxpayer, paid €600 with Aer Lingus footing the remainder.

“The government has essentially paid the wage bill for Aer Lingus for 15 months and therefore there’s an onus on the airline to not treat their workers shoddily and to maintain basic connectivity in and out of the airport.

“While I welcome the fact that Ms Embleton has said that Aer Lingus is committed to ensuring connectivity at Shannon, there is a lot more at play.

“Workers in Shannon are facing job losses despite years of loyal service, whereas those based in Dublin Airport who might only be working with the company a year and a half are continuing to enjoy employment there.

“The bottom line is we need to see more solid commitment from Aer Lingus to Shannon Airport.

“The inefficiencies referred to by Aer Lingus in talking about the closure of the Shannon base, I don’t buy.

“Aer Lingus wanted all along to straighten some industrial relation stuff and have exploited the tax payer, who has footed their wage bill, by using Covid-19 to close this base and waiting until the eleventh hour to tell their loyal workers such.

“I will continue to liaise with Aer Lingus with a view to turning this decision around and I hope that we can engage in constructive discussions.”

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• Four projects to receive grants
• Funding targets archaeological heritage projects

Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe has welcomed the allocation of €193,935 to County Clare for four individual projects, under the Community Monuments Fund.

A total of €4.2 million is being rolled out nationally to fund 139 projects; up €1 million from last year, when the fund was first established.

The main aims of the CMF are the conservation, maintenance, protection and promotion of local monuments and historic sites.

“As an avid historian, I’m thrilled to see that four magnificent historic sites around Clare are receiving these grants,” said Deputy Crowe.

“Clonrush Burial Ground is the only Stream 1 project approved in Clare, with €30,351 awarded for essential repairs and capital works for the conservation and repair or archaeological monuments.

“Under Stream 2, which looks specifically at conservation management plans for archaeological monuments and public access, Kilkerren Battery Fort near Labasheeda has been granted €29,129; Templemaley Church and Burial Ground will receive €13,478 and a sum of €29,950 will go to Kilfenora Cathedral.

“Churches and burial grounds are hugely historical places where we, and the offspring of the diaspora the world over, can trace back our family heritage centuries.

“They are fascinating places to visit but too often can fall into disrepair so this funding for Kilfenora Cathedral, Templemaley church and burial ground and the burial ground at Clonrush is hugely welcome.

“Kilkerrin Battery Fort has a very different but equally interesting history.

“The structure was built between 1811 and 1814 by British forces, one of a half dozen dotted along the Shannon Estuary, as a means to repel a threatened invasion by Napoleonic forces.

“It remained in use for much of the 19^th century and later fell into disrepair but since the 1980s, there have been efforts made to restore this 200-year-old structure.

“The sum of almost €30,000 will make a significant difference to these efforts by the community of Labasheeda.

“Two projects in Clare were sadly unsuccessful in their quest to secure CMF funding but I would encourage these and any other community that feels they could benefit from this fund to start work now on having all their ducks in a row for next year.

“I look forward to visiting each of the four successful applicants for 2021 and seeing what they do with their grants.”

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• Danger of other airlines following Stobart’s example
• Antigen testing can boost sector

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Tourism and Aviation Cathal Crowe is calling for assurances that antigen testing will be used as a viable alternative to PCR testing to allow the aviation sector get back up and running.

It follows the announcement by Stobart Air that it has ceased operations.

“In light of Stobart Air’s announcement, it is essential that urgent actions are taken to prevent other airlines from facing the same fate,” said Deputy Crowe

“Ireland now has a pathway back to a safe resumption of international travel and many people, myself included, look forward to flying this summer in the safe knowledge that other passengers on the plane would be Covid-free.

“Pre-departure testing at airports will ensure that travelling by air will, in all likelihood, be safer from a Covid perspective than travelling on buses, trains and other forms of public transport.

“It remains a huge concern, however, to all that work in the aviation sector that PCR testing may be a barrier to people flying.

“Many Irish people are used to buying a bargain basement air ticket from an airline but the cost of a PCR test, which can be anything up to €150, will make many international trips unviable this summer.

“A number of months ago, the government commissioned a report on antigen testing which was completed by Professor Mark Ferguson this report concluded that antigen was a safe and effective way of testing individuals and I think we now need to embrace it as a parallel testing to PCR testing.

“Antigen tests typically cos less than €10 and can give an accurate read within a half an hour – whereas a PCR test is usually within three days of flying.

“In this way, PCR tests can some way be likened to breathalysing a few hours before going to the pub – it doesn’t capture all of the relevant data.

“For this reason, I think it’s important that antigen tests are factored in as a cheaper and equally effective alternative.

“A family with two kids would face huge costs if they had to take PCR tests, where antigen testing would relieve this burden but also give airlines a glimmer of hope for the months ahead.”

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