Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 13 Feb 2001

Vol. 530 No. 3

Written Answers. - Air Services.

Ivor Callely

Question:

87 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the total number of commuters recorded through Dublin Airport for 2000; the numbers for each of the past years 1995 to 2000; the progress on the development of a rail link to Dublin Airport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3648/01]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

Dublin Airport had its busiest year so far in 2000 in terms of passenger movements with an overall traffic increase of more than one million bringing passenger numbers to 13.8 million, an increase of 8% over the previous year.

Passenger figures for Dublin Airport for the period 1995 to 2000 are as follows:

Year	Passenger Movements at Dublin Airport
1995	8,024,894
1996	9,091,296
1997	10,333,202
1998	11,641,100
1999	12,802,031
2000	13,843,528

With regard to the proposed development of a rail link to Dublin Airport, the Dublin Transportation Office's strategy 2000-2016, A Platform for Change, has recommended the development of a metro system for Dublin metropolitan area as part of an overall multi-modal public transport network. The strategy envisages that the recommended metro would provide the rail link to Dublin Airport. The Government approved, in principle, the development of the proposed metro.

I have asked the light rail project office of CIE to carry out the necessary preparatory work on the development of the metro with a particular priority attaching to the rail link to the airport. I expect to report to Government shortly on the implementation plans.