Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Oct 1999

Vol. 508 No. 3

Written Answers - Air Services.

Liam Lawlor

Ceist:

153 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she is in receipt of the consultants' report on the future strategic direction of Aer Rianta in the context of proposals for the development of Baldonnel Airport for commercial and civil aviation purposes; the preliminary assessments, if any, carried out by her Department on the viability of Baldonnel as the second commercial airport serving the capital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18621/99]

Seán Haughey

Ceist:

155 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the submissions, if any, made to her regarding the construction of a second terminal building at Dublin Airport and a second civilian passenger airport at Baldonnel; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19055/99]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 155 together.

Huntstown Airpark Limited proposed some years ago to build a private terminal at Dublin Airport. The then Minister, Deputy Dukes, decided against this proposal. Planning permission for this development was refused, on appeal, early this year. Last year Ryanair proposed, inter alia, to build a second terminal at Dublin Airport.

As regards proposals for the future development of the military aerodrome at Baldonnel, this is primarily a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Defence, in the first instance. Both the Minister for Defence and I have received several proposals in relation to limited development of civil aviation at Baldonnel.

Any use of Baldonnel for civil aviation purposes is a matter which falls to be considered by me, in consultation with the Minister for Defence, in the context of overall airports policy.

In regard to both issues, advisers have been appointed jointly by the Minister for Finance and me to assist in the examination of Aer Rianta's report on its future strategic direction. Its report will assist me to assess the position of Baldonnel and of a second terminal against that wider policy backdrop. It is expected that the advisers will complete their work in the near future.

Following the receipt of their report and consideration of their recommendations, I intend to report to Government with my recommendations in respect of both issues. It would not be appropriate for me at this point to speculate on what those recommendations will be.