Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Mar 1996

Vol. 462 No. 5

Written Answers. - Second Dublin Commercial Airport.

Godfrey Timmins

Ceist:

52 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if he is examining the establishment of a second commercial airport in the greater Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4967/96]

Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications (Mr. Lowry)

I considered very carefully the proposal for the establishement of a second commercial airport for Dublin. The conclusion I reached, having consulted with my Cabinet colleagues, was that the project would not be in the interests of the aviation sector and the economy generally.

I made an extensive public statement on this issue recently and I have arranged for a copy of that statement to be placed in the Dáil Library for the convenience of Deputies. In summary, I pointed out that Dublin airport has the capacity to cater for traffic growth for the foreseeable future; independent studies have shown that Aer Rianta's cost base is not excessive and that its landing charges are competitive; two airports for Dublin would duplicate infrastructure and facilities leading to increased costs as economies of scale would be lost. Airlines would be reluctant to transfer to a secondary location because of the loss of hubbing opportunities and integrated services that such a move would entail. The coming on stream of the Baldonnel proposal would coincide with the planned abolition of the intra-EU duty free sales from 1999 which will have adverse implications for all airports and airlines. In other words, the economics of Baldonnel would be problematic from the outset.

In addition, a commercial airport at Baldonnel would impact not only on Dublin airport but on the catchment areas of Galway, Shannon, Cork and Waterford airports putting further pressure on some of these airports to survive or grow, and, the Baldonnel project would not come on stream until the end of the century. In the meantime, the Dublin airport development programme cannot be put on hold. It would make no sense to enhance capacity at Dublin airport and at the same time provide capacity at another location.

Baldonnel aerodrome will continue to be used by the Air Corps. The Department of Defence is currently examining the possible use of the facilities at Baldonnel for private executive air travel. Both the Minister for Defence and I believe that there may be scope for making greater use of Baldonnel in this area of aviation.