Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 17 May 2000

Vol. 519 No. 3

Adjournment Debate. - Airport Development Projects.

Ms Clune

Users of Cork Airport can tell one that the airport is bursting at the seams. Passenger numbers are expected to exceed two million in the next two years and investment is needed. It cannot cope at present with its expected passenger growth and this is recognised by Aer Rianta, which last September made a presentation of its development plan for the airport starting in 1999, but it is now 2000 and we have seen nothing yet. Those plans included an extension of the passenger terminal, a multi-storey car park and three airbridges to begin with. The long-term plan included further extensions of the terminal and runway.

These development plans are all very well, but what about the money needed to support those plans? I am being asked those questions and I raise them here to ensure Cork Airport is not omitted from the Government's plans. We witnessed a recent extension to Shannon and yet we see no development in Cork. There are proposals but there are no commitments from the Government. The Minister indicated that she believes the State cannot invest in our airports due to a restriction at European level on State investment and that all the funding for airport investment will have to be found in other ways such as the sale or partial sale of those airports.

I have always found it hard to believe the Government would consider the public sale of such a vital part of our national infrastructure. We are an island nation and ours is the only country in Europe without a landbridge connection to the Continent. We are on the periphery of the Continent and it does not make sense to consider the sale of such a vital part of our national infrastructure to private enterprise. We would not consider selling our roads, railways or bridges. Ownership of our airports should remain in public hands.

The Minister's argument against State funding has been refuted by a European Commission document on competition that I have here. It states that the construction or enlargement of infrastructural projects such as airports, motorways or bridges etc. represents a general measure of economic policy which cannot be controlled by the Commission. The document goes on to state: ". under the Treaty rules on State aids, an infrastructural development decision falls outside the scope of application of this communication in so far as they are aimed at meeting planning needs or implementing national, environmental and transport policies." It is essential for the development of Cork as a region that the Government makes a statement and commits itself to State funding for this airport. I call on the Government to do so now, to commit the necessary funding to the airport. Aer Rianta has the plans and has indicated its commitment to Cork Airport and the necessity for investment given the passenger numbers projection. I ask the Government to put its money where its mouth is and invest in Cork Airport, as it is a vital part of the region. It is vital to tourism, to the economic development of the area and to the people of the area to have a commitment to the future of the airport.

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

I thank Deputy Clune for raising this matter. I am happy to assure her that all the work outlined in the plan is going ahead. I am happy to give that commitment to her and, through her, to Cork and to all who use that airport. The numbers have doubled and the airport handled more than 1.5 million passengers in 1999, as Deputy Clune knows. Aer Rianta set out its plans in this regard at Cork Airport in September 1999. The Cork Airport development plan proposes expenditure of up to £60 million over the next five years and that funding will be utilised. This plan covers both the short-term and long-term development proposals, which involve capital investment on a variety of airfield, terminal and ancillary projects.

On the airfield, apron and taxiway extensions are planned at a total cost of £8 million, which will provide additional capacity for the increasing volume of traffic at the airport and also equip the airport to accommodate larger aircraft – the necessity for this has been frequently brought to my attention. This development is about to go to tender and will be completed within a year. Aer Rianta informed me that the necessary funding is in place for this project. A 40 acre site acquired by Aer Rianta last year adjoining the airport is being prepared for the provision of future airport facilities, including aircraft parking and cargo facilities. A design team is actively working on plans to double the capacity of the existing terminal building. The project will also include the provision of airbridges and baggage screening, which is a new security standard that will be mandatory by 2003. Preliminary surveys are already under way and construction, which will cost £30 million, is expected to commence in 2001. The finance is in place for that.

Plans are currently being finalised for an extensive upgrading of the roads, public car parks, including a multi-storey car park for which planning permission has been obtained from Cork County Council, and other infrastructure such as upgrading of the water supply, drainage and sewerage facilities, which will cost £15 million. Work has commenced on the provision of the new water supply and it will be completed by summer 2000, which is quite immediate. This improved water supply will benefit not only the airport but also the local communities. Of the overall capital expenditure programme of £60 million, £6 million was spent in 1999 on the overlay of the runway, while the second project is going to tender, as I said. In addition to the airport development projects I have outlined, work has also commenced on the construction of a new £7 million Great Southern Hotel at the entrance to Cork Airport which will be completed by March next year.

I saw the great strides being made when I passed through the airport recently – perhaps others do not see it when travelling through the area. I understand Deputy Clune's concerns. When one is from an area one is keen on everything that goes with that area. People are right to express their opinions and my job is to answer their questions. I applaud the Deputy's determination, but if I am told that £6 million has been spent and tenders are out to spend another £8 million I must accept that. It is clear that Aer Rianta is actively progressing the necessary work to satisfy the immediate demands on the airport. A model and detailed plans showing all the developments will be put on display in Cork Airport within the next month so that airport users will be able to see for themselves what has been done and what is in store. It is a successful operation. Traffic for the first four months of this year was up 20% over the same period last year. What is being said is that the airport is jam-packed and that the new facilities are necessary. It has the fastest growth rate of the three State airports this year. All the indications are that Cork Airport will have another record year and the construction work in progress is no more than a symptom of its success.

I compliment Aer Rianta on its hard work and the Deputies who serve the area.