asked the Minister for Transport and Power why structural alterations to the passenger shop at Shannon Airport, which commenced in November, 1966 and which were to have been completed in April, 1967, have not yet been completed.
4.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Shannon Airport Alterations.
3.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether his Department have decided to put in hand immediately further structural alterations in the passenger area at Shannon Airport; and, if so, whether he considers it desirable to postpone this work until October and thus obviate any inconvenience to staff and passengers during the peak summer period.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together.
The extension of the Transit Shop, which was due for completion on the 5th July, has been completed and is in service. Additional work consisting of the provision of a new Departure Lobby and extensions of the Customs Hall was also undertaken. The Departure Lobby has been completed and the extension of the Customs Hall will be completed within the next two weeks. The extension of the Customs Hall could not have been commenced until the new Departure Lobby had first been completed. No further work is proposed in this area of the airport during the current summer period.
Would the Minister not agree that it was downright madness and the essence of stupidity and inefficiency to allow a situation to develop where structural alterations were being carried out in the passenger shop during the peak traffic period and does he realise that as a result of rank stupidity on the part of somebody in his Department, passengers and staff over the past couple of weeks have been subjected to intolerable inconvenience and annoyance?
I think the Deputy is grossly exaggerating. We do our best to arrange all these things on time but it is not always possible.
Surely the Minister will agree, in view of the fact that there are seven months of an offseason period, that it should be possible to arrange to have any structural alterations or additions carried out during the off-season?
These things get delayed.