Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 18 Jun 2003

Vol. 568 No. 6

Written Answers. - Air Services.

Jimmy Deenihan

Question:

86 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Transport his views on the provision of a second terminal at Dublin Airport in order to help develop additional air services from the UK and continental European markets with strong inward tourism potential; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16239/03]

Róisín Shortall

Question:

93 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport his policy on the future of Dublin Airport and the objectives of this policy; and if he will make a statement on the actions which he intends to take in this regard. [16854/03]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Brennan):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 93 together.

Dublin Airport is our largest airport and primary international gateway accounting for 15 million passengers last year or 76% of total air passengers in 2002. Traffic at Dublin Airport is expected to double to 30 million passengers by 2020 and one of the key objectives of our aviation policy is to ensure that our principal gateway airports, including Dublin Airport, are in a position to provide cost competitive and appropriate infrastructure to meet the current and prospective needs of airlines and other aviation companies, consistent with a commercial mandate. In the case of Dublin Airport, this will require further substantial investment in both airside and landside facilities in good time to meet the projected growth in passenger numbers and airline services.

One of the main issues in the programme for Government is the commitment to examine proposals for a new independent terminal at Dublin Airport and to progress such proposals if the evidence suggests that such a terminal will deliver significant benefits. The report of the panel of experts, chaired by Mr. Paddy Mullarkey, in relation to the independent terminal concept at Dublin Airport concluded that the development of such a terminal is both operationally and technically feasible. The panel also believes that an independent terminal is a viable strategic option for the development of Dublin Airport and would elicit considerable market interest.

The concept which emerged from the panel's work was a terminal designed primarily to provide capacity for short haul UK and European flights based on fast turnaround, point to point operations. The terminal would be developed in phases with the first phase providing capacity of up to 10 million passengers per annum. The panel concluded that an independent terminal would stimulate competition at Dublin Airport through increased capacity, operational efficiency and the quality of terminal services and these would provide powerful incentives for airlines to develop additional air services from the airport.

Regardless of how the next tranche of terminal capacity is provided, the panel also concluded that additional runway capacity would also be required to cater for growth at Dublin Airport. My Department is currently finishing a process of consultation with relevant interested parties and stakeholders in relation to the independent terminal concept and it would be my intention to discuss the matter again with Government in the near future.