Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that the Deputy is a major supporter of Shannon Airport. However, it is one of several airports in the west, including Ireland West Airport at Knock and Kerry, Cork and Donegal airports. They all have an important role to play. It is not the case, as people might have feared, that Shannon and Knock airports cannot both do well. It looks like this could be Knock airport's best year ever.

In regard to infrastructure, the Gort to Tuam scheme is under way and expected to be completed in 2018. It will improve access to both Shannon Airport and Ireland West Airport at Knock. The other major project in the region involves improvements to the M20, including the link between Limerick and Cork. That project will be in the mix for the next capital development plan which, however, will not be agreed to until next year.

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