• Operations between Dec 11^th & 17^th impacted
• Comes ahead of busy Christmas schedule

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Tourism and Aviation Cathal Crowe is expressing disappointment at the cancellation of Aer Lingus’ Boston flights to and from Shannon Airport at one of the busiest times of the year.

The airline has confirmed that its flights between Boston Shannon are not operating between December 11^th and 17^th, with passengers booked onto various services being accommodated on flights in and out of Dublin instead.

There have also been some ongoing tactical cancellations in Dublin Airport.

“It’s very disappointing to see this happening,” said Deputy Crowe.

“We are building up to the Christmas season – a time of year when there’s usually an increase to air travel, as people fly home to Shannon to spend time with loved ones.

“For decades, Shannon Airport has beena famous gateway to expats and Irish immigrants in North America who yearn to be home at Christmas time and many Irish people have in recent years tried to squeeze in a visit to iconic US cities like New York in the build-up to December 25^th.

“Whilst I appreciate that the technical difficulties that Aer Lingus are experiencing are unavoidable, it’s unfortunate that Shannon Airport has to lose out on one of the busiest weeks of the year.

“Transatlantic flights to and from Shannon are an integral part of Aer Lingus’s annual flight schedule.

“Passengers will be very discommoded by this move but Aer Lingus have assured me that they will accommodate them on alternative flights in and out of Ireland.

“I’ve been in contact with Aer Lingus on the matter but there’s very little change that can be politically affected here, as Aer Lingus trade as a commercial company and make all of their own decisions.

“I hope that 2024 will see Aer Lingus and other airlines, including Ryanair, commit heavily to Shannon Airport once again.

“Shannon has enjoyed a great resurgence since Ireland has emerged from the Covid pandemic but Shannon Airport management, and the many people in the Midwest region who are staunch advocates for the airport feel that it can grow even further.

“As my party’s Aviation Spokesperson and a TD for Clare I will continue to work to ensure Shannon’s future growth.”

Statement from Aer Lingus

“Aer Lingus has had to make a number of tactical cancellations to our US operations between 11th and 17th Dec due to aircraft availability in this period. Any impacted customers have been re-accommodated onto alternative flights and will reach their US destinations. We plan to operate flights over the Christmas period as scheduled. Flights in both directions are impacted and it’s only Boston for the relevant period. There have been ongoing tactical cancellations in Dublin also.”

• Both communities still waiting on news
• Memo imminent but must be expedited

Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe is calling on the government to expedite a memo through Cabinet, which will see sewerage schemes approved and funded for the villages of Broadford and Cooraclare.

It has been a lengthy wait for both communities, who continue to seek news on their long-awaited schemes.

“I am calling on colleagues in government to fast-track a memo through cabinet to have sewerage schemes for Broadford and Cooraclare approved and funded,” said Deputy Crowe.

“People in both communities have campaigned for more than 40 years to have this essential infrastructure built and in this day and age, it is absurd that raw sewerage is still being discharged into local water courses.

“Minister Darragh O’Brien has been very supportive of the concept of bringing sewerage schemes to both Broadford and Cooraclare and I have been meeting him on an ongoing basis to press the case for both villages.

“In August 2021, Minister O’Brien visited the county to discuss the merits of schemes for both villages with Clare County Council management and he also paid a visit to Broadford.

“Since then, hopes and expectations have been rising that schemes would be announced – but a lot of indicative dates have come and passed.

“I remain fully confident that Minister O’Brien will fulfil his promise to deliver one-off rural sewerage schemes throughout the country and I remain highly hopeful that Broadford and Cooraclare will be beneficiaries of the same.

“My understanding is that a memo from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will go before Cabinet and that agreement there will be required before the schemes can be finally approved.

“I met with Minister O’Brien again this week and have urged him to expedite this process.

“There have been far too many false dawns for both villages over the years and I don’t plan on being a politician that lets them down.

“When Fianna Fáil entered government in 2020, I dig my heels in and said that the provision of rural sewerage schemes should be amongst our red-line issues entering government.

“My demand has been positively supported by Minister O’Brien throughout his tenure as a cabinet minister and I am confident that he will deliver for Clare.

“It is essential that we also plan for this scheme to operate on a multi-annual basis – there are several more communities in Clare including Carrigaholt, Doolin and O’Brien’s Bridge that desperately require these schemes.

“A multi-annual fully funded scheme is the only way of ensuring the archaic practice of having sewerage effluent leaking into local rivers is ended.

“If Ireland doesn’t fully grasp that problem, we will face sanctions from the European Commission.”

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• Multiple meetings held to resolve issue
• Light finally at end of tunnel

Meelick Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe has welcomed the confirmation that the resumption of the Meelick-Limerick City school bus route is imminent.

Pupils on this route have been without school transport since the beginning of the school term, which has put huge strain on their parents in trying to get them to and from school.

“I’m delighted first and foremost for my neighbours, the parents and pupils of Meelick, who have been in contact with me for months on this bus issue,” said Deputy Crowe.

“I’ve been in constant contact with Bus Éireann on this and all of the other routes that have been giving issues this school year and have had literally hundreds of parents emailing and phoning me and meeting me at clinics.

“In the last fortnight, I held five or six meetings both online and in person with senior management in Bus Éireann and the parents themselves to find a solution.

“It became clear in the course of these meetings that we were nearing a solution and I was delighted to be able to confirm to the parents that a contractor has been appointed.

“Some minor details are now being ironed out but I fully expect this route to be up and running very soon.

“It’s important that next year, the procurement process for getting drivers to fulfil routes begins earlier and I will be engaging with Minister Norma Foley on this.

“I’m again calling on Bus Éireann to revisit the rule whereby drivers over the age of 70 are not allowed to drive services to and from schools, but are allowed to fulfil other contracts during the working day.

“It is illogical that a driver can bring children to a hurling match of swimming lessons – but not to school because of a ridiculous and unworkable rule.”

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