Varadkar tells airports no public money available

TRANSPORT Minister Leo Varadkar has effectively told Galway and Sligo airport officials they will have to beg from private investors from next year because there is no more public money left to run the facilities.

The Fine Gael minister said limited resources mean the only services outside of Dublin and Cork which will still be funded in 2012 are Kerry, Waterford, Donegal and Knock.

In a statement outlining the move, Mr Varadkar said the coalition Government is making an extra €5.9 million available to all six regional airports for the remainder of this year.