Written Answers. - Dublin Airport.
Jan O'Sullivan
Question:
12
Ms O'Sullivan
asked the
Minister for Public Enterprise
if she has satisfied herself that measures announced by her in relation to overcrowding at Dublin Airport are adequate to ease the present congestion; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[22687/00]
Michael Bell
Question:
17
Mr. Bell
asked the
Minister for Public Enterprise
her plans for the future of Aer Rianta; if she has concluded her considerations of the report (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[22684/00]
P. J. Sheehan
Question:
28
Mr. Sheehan
asked the
Minister for Public Enterprise
if her attention has been drawn to the frustration of passengers using Dublin Airport; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[22497/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 17 and 28 together.
I am, of course, fully aware of the congestion experienced at certain times at Dublin Airport over the summer months and of the frustration on the part of passengers who were using the airport particularly at peak times. I expressed my concern in relation to this matter to the chairman and the chief executive of Aer Rianta when I met them last month to discuss this issue.
This congestion was due to a combination of a number of factors including the major building programme under way at the airport, the strong growth in passenger numbers and the arrival and departure, at peak times, of large numbers of flights.
I am satisfied the measures which both I and Aer Rianta have taken will alleviate congestion at Dublin Airport.
Aer Rianta is investing over £350 million in a major expansion programme at the airport which will provide greater comfort for the ever increasing number of passengers. This expansion, the main elements of which are now substantially complete, includes additional capacity in the arrivals area and baggage hall, new check-in desks, equipment and technology and new exits and entrances. New and expanded catering services are also being provided. This programme will double capacity at Dublin Airport to 20 million passengers per annum. Initiatives have also been taken by Aer Rianta, pending completion of the expansion programme at the airport, to ease congestion and to ensure that safety standards are fully maintained.
As Deputies will be aware, last month I designated Dublin Airport as a "co-ordinated" airport and my Department has since appointed Airports Co-ordination Limited to take over the function of co-ordinating landing and take-off slots. ACL has already commenced work at Dublin Airport and will be involved in agreeing the flight schedules of the various airlines for summer 2001. Up to now, the function of co-ordinating take-off and landing slots at Dublin Airport was handled on a voluntary basis by Aer Lingus on behalf of the airlines using the airport, but such an arrangement is no longer adequate given the huge growth in passenger traffic and aircraft movements. Passenger traffic at Dublin is expected to reach almost 14 million this year compared to just eight million as recently as five years ago.
My Department has also engaged a firm of international civil aviation consultants, SH&E, to conduct a study at Dublin Airport which will assist me in determining whether the airport should be designated as "fully co-ordinated". A "fully co-ordinated" airport is one at which airlines are assigned specific, time-designated slots by the co-ordinator. This study, which will focus on capacity issues at Dublin Airport, is required under the EU Council regulation governing slots and SH&E have now commenced their work. The study will take several weeks to complete following which there must be a period to allow the airlines to express their views and comments on the consultant's report.
My decision to designate Dublin Airport as a co-ordinated airport, coupled with the expansion programme being pursued by Aer Rianta will contribute to a significant easing of the pressures on facilities at the airport and result in a greater degree of comfort for passengers.
In the wider context, I am continuing to give careful consideration to the findings of the Warburg Dillon Read report on Aer Rianta. I am conscious that early decisions are desirable in relation to these matters and that such decisions should ensure that necessary investment projects for Dublin, Shannon and Cork Airports over the next three years can be funded by Aer Rianta.
