asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will state the present situation in regard to the proposal to construct two new east-west runways at Dublin Airport.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Airport Runways.
21.
Plans for the development of Dublin Airport provide for a new east-west runway to the north of the terminal area. At a later stage a second parallel runway to the south of this area will be provided when traffic growth requires it. The acquisition of the necessary land for the proposed runways is in train and consultations are proceeding with the appropriate authorities about planning and related considerations. It is not possible at this stage to state when construction work on the first of the new runways will commence but the indications are that the runway will not be required before the 1980's.
In view of the importance of this matter for a very large area of North County Dublin and other areas, could the Minister not be more specific? Rumour has it —and rumours around Dublin Airport very often turn out to be more accurate than the Minister himself in this House——
I have warned the Deputy before about rumours.
Rumour has it that this new east-west runway has been postponed indefinitely. Can the Minister say if that is so?
No, that is not true.
Could the Minister indicate whether the decision permitting the American carrier into Dublin Airport has in any way altered the situation? Could he give us some definitive information about the situation?
There is no truth in the rumour to which the Deputy has listened about the indefinite deferment or stopping of plans in this case—that is not on. I do not see what significance or relevance the fact that the American carrier coming into Dublin has in regard to the question. I have told the Deputy that the land is being purchased under CPO and by agreement, where it can be purchased by agreement. It is hoped that purchase of the total of 700 acres required for this plan will be completed some time this year, perhaps early this year. When we can see that the growth in air traffic will be resumed to the level anticipated for the use of that runway, its construction will go ahead.
The Minister has been of some help; perhaps he could be a little more. Is it the position that at the existing level of activity this new runway is not required?
That is correct.
Is it also the position that as far as one can project at present into the future the existing runways will be adequate up to, perhaps, the year 2000?
Oh Lord, no.
We will leave the Lord out of this.
I find Him of help on occasions but the indications are that the runway will not be required before the 1980s. It was thought originally that it would be required, perhaps, in 1974-75 but for a number of reasons the anticipated growth in traffic did not take place. Then it was postponed until 1978-79 and it looks now as if it will be 1980 or 1981 before the runway is being used.
In use?
In use—that the traffic warranting the new runway would then be there.
Is it the position that the existing runway cannot be extended to cater for all forecast traffic for, say, the next ten years?
The present runways are 30 years old and the present proposal is to build new ones, first one to the north of the existing terminal building and a second one, perhaps ten or 15 years later, to the south of the existing building.
At the moment the Minister cannot say definitely when, in fact, the new runways will be built but his best estimate is somewhere around 1980-81?
Yes.