Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 June 2023
23. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport what engagement has taken place between his Department and the DAA, with a view to having the appropriate level of car parking spaces available in Dublin Airport and Cork Airport ahead of the summer months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30116/23]
View answerdaa has statutory responsibility to operate, manage and develop Dublin and Cork Airports, including car parking at the airports.
I can advise the Deputy that my officials and I engage regularly with the daa. In recent engagements I have stressed the importance of Dublin and Cork Airports engaging with all parts of the airport community in relation to preparedness for Summer 2023.
The deputy will be aware that there is a significant level of pent-up demand for air travel with the result that passenger numbers have rebounded strongly at our airports this year. Latest passenger statistics show that last month, over 3m passengers passed through Dublin airport and 263,000 passengers passed through Cork Airport which was an increase of 17% and 29% respectively in comparison to last May.
My department is aware that Dublin Airport, in particular, is facing significant car parking challenges on foot of the temporary closure of a privately owned long stay car park (Quickpark) and that there is potential for this to have a material impact on passengers over the coming summer peak period. While the daa has agreed terms to purchase this car park, this is under review by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC).
The daa communications team has stood up a robust communications campaign to ensure passengers are well informed of options for travelling to and from Dublin Airport this summer. Dublin Airport has a wide range of connectivity options available to passengers. The airport is accessible by in excess of 1,000 public transport services daily. daa has advised my department that it is working closely with transport operators to increase the number of active bus routes serving the airport by 15% this summer, while also increasing the number of taxi permits in issue by 20%. Daa advise that there are short term car parking spaces available at Dublin Airport for passengers being dropped off and picked up from the Airport and parking is available when booked in advance in the long-term car parks.
Cork Airport has 4,100 short and long-term car parking spaces across three car parks and is serviced by two bus links, Bus Eireann and Citylink. Both bus services service routes to and from Cork city centre, railway station and bus station. There is also a service from Galway via Limerick provided by Citylink. I am advised that no issues have been raised in relation to car parking at Cork Airport.
I will be meeting with the CEO of daa again later this week where I will seek to ensure that daa is maximising their current parking capacity and continuing to examine alternative options, as appropriate, including increasing the number of taxi permits and public transport services to the airport.
