Bloggsie,
Re. Ballina, I agree with you about a tower ---- if the establishment criteria has been reached, then a tower it should be ----- and it looks like it will be a "virtual" tower ---- which, no doubt, will be a great disappointment to ATCs who would love a job in a nice seaside rural setting, in a very pleasant country town, cheap houses etc., but still a short drive from the "bright lights".
And it is true that, so far, it has been all about cost, with the airlines doing handstands to avoid same.
Re. stats, nope, no need, which you would understand, if you had even an elementary understanding of mathematical statistics, and, for that matter, risk management.
Tootle pip!!