Emmet Stagg
Ceist:43 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Public Enterprise her views on whether Dublin requires a second commercial airport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4111/00]
Other Questions. - Commercial Airports.
Ivor Callely
Ceist:67 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she has satisfied herself that Dublin Airport has sufficient capacity to expand and accommodate its market demand for the foreseeable future; if her attention has been drawn to the importance of the airport to the northside of Dublin for its economic and social gain; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4057/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 67 together.
It has been my understanding for some time that Dublin does not need a second airport in terms of the capacity of Dublin Airport to grow for the foreseeable future. Aside from the capacity issue, the other possible reason for proposing a second airport for Dublin relates to the question of promoting competition in the airport sector. Both those aspects were considered in the recent consultancy report on Aer Rianta's future strategic direction which assessed the merits of a second airport in Dublin, particularly in the context of the possible development by commercial interests of Baldonnel Aerodrome.
The advisers formed the view that Dublin Airport is not constrained from a capacity point of view and that it has sufficient capacity to expand and accommodate up to 40 million passengers per annum. With regard to Baldonnel, the advisers see no reason for the Government to hinder commercial development at the aerodrome subject to Department of Defence approval, appropriate planning and Irish Aviation Authority approvals. They believe, however, that while the development of a corporate jet facility on a commercial basis could be viable, a larger scale passenger airport development at Baldonnel would be commercially challenging. I fully recognise the economic and social importance locally of Dublin Airport for the northside of Dublin but its significance and impact extends throughout the whole Dublin region and beyond.
Do we take it from the Minister's reply that the Government has no intention of developing a second commercial airport at Baldonnel? I do not know what that answer means.
We have no intention of developing another State airport. If somebody has a proposal to develop it commercially, they can put forward their plans, and their money, and the Department of Defence, which owns the land, could consider it. The Government has no intention of setting up another State airport, if that is what the Deputy is asking.
Will the Minister put on record that any commercial development at Baldonnel will be for corporate and commercial jets and not for the scheduled airline business? In that context and in terms of the future of Aer Rianta, we need to be clear that Dublin Airport will be the hub international airport for the foreseeable future. It is a three hour drive to Cork and Shannon. We are dealing with the linchpin of aviation policy when we talk about the future of Dublin Airport per se.
Is the Minister aware that her colleague, the Minister for Defence, Deputy Smith, has expressed other views on this matter in the House? Has she consulted the Minister for Defence on the matter?
I agree with the concept Deputy Yates put forward that Dublin Airport is the linchpin of the three State airports and that the State will not develop another commercial airport. I also agree that it would seem suitable to develop Baldonnel, which is not under the aegis of my Department, to enhance corporate jet arrival and departure facilities. However, that is up to a commercial developer.
But that is the limit of its scope.
It is State owned now.
It is owned by the Department of Defence. The Deputy would need to put down a question to the Minister for Defence. The Minister and I have had informal conversations about the matter.
I would say they had discussions about the barracks in Athlone as well.
The Western Command.
Field Marshal O'Rourke.