Jimmy Deenihan
Ceist:90 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Transport the current plans which Aer Rianta have for the development of its airports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18328/02]
Written Answers. - Airport Development.
Gerard Murphy
Ceist:120 Mr. Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the plans Aer Rianta has to develop its airports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18332/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 120 together.
Significant investment has been made by Aer Rianta at Shannon Airport in recent years in developing facilities for passengers and cargo. With the completion of the terminal extension two years ago, Shannon now has capacity to handle up to 4.5 million passengers per annum. This year, Aer Rianta expects 2.3 million passengers to pass through Shannon Airport. Further investment is now required at Cork Airport to cater for traffic growth and initiatives are also under way for Dublin Airport to expand passenger and aircraft handling facilities.
It is recognised by Aer Rianta that Cork Airport needs significant investment to cater for the growth in traffic through the airport in recent years and the company is well advanced with its plans for a major new capital investment programme in infrastructure and facilities. The main feature of this programme, estimated to cost €130 million, is a 25,000 sq. metre terminal building. Planning permission for this project was secured earlier this year and Aer Rianta is currently evaluating tenders for the works. The company expects the work will take two years to complete and the aim would be to have the new terminal ready for Cork's year as European city of culture in 2005. I have made it clear that this project will proceed, whatever the outcome of my current examination of options for greater autonomy for Cork airport.
At Dublin Airport, the Programme for Government commits to ensuring that a new, low cost facility (Pier D) is built without delay. The need for further facilities to cater for the rapid turnaround of aircraft when they are on the ground was specifically identified in the Doganis report earlier this year. To this end, Aer Rianta recently secured planning permission from Fingal County Council in respect of a new, permanent, two-story pier. The company has also submitted a planning application for a temporary pier facility. Subject to planning permission being secured, the temporary facility will be in place and operational by the beginning of May next year, in good time for the peak summer tourism season. In relation to the proposed permanent pier facility, I have indicated to the board of Aer Rianta that while I have no objection to the company proceeding with its planning and other preparatory work, no contractual or other irrevocable commitments should be entered into before the Government makes a decision with regard to the possible provision of a second independent or competing terminal at Dublin Airport.
The concept of such a terminal at Dublin Airport has been mooted by a number of interests in recent years and I believe the most practical way forward at this point is to explore the pros and cons involved and to test the viability of the concept of canvassing the market. To that end, my Department has already made a widely publicised call for expressions of interest from interested parties. This call for expressions of interest provides an opportunity for proponents of the concept of a second, independent terminal at Dublin Airport to outline what precisely they have in mind, how it would work in practice, and possible approaches to addressing the regulatory implications e.g. for the transparent pricing of airfield facilities. We have asked for these ideas and proposals to be submitted by the end of this month, 31 October, and I intend to have the responses professionally assessed and make recommendations to the Government on this issue before the end of the year.
The programme for Government also includes a commitment that as part of the process of transforming Aer Rianta, we will ensure that Shannon and Cork airports have greater autonomy and independence. A debate has now been stimulated by me both within the Shannon and Cork regions and at a national level on the best ownership structure for these two airports going forward, in the context of continued State ownership. I visited both Shannon and Cork recently to further stimulate this debate. There is a genuine sense of goodwill towards the airports in the two regions on the part of local tourism and business interests and views may differ on the best way forward. However, I will listen carefully to the views of all interested parties before framing proposals to bring to Government.