Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2004
49 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if it remains Government policy to support the development of a second terminal at Dublin Airport; the progress which has been made to implement this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32405/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI assume the Deputy is referring to the concept of an independent second terminal at Dublin Airport and, in this regard, I am not aware of any decision in support of that concept announced by the former Minister for Public Enterprise. As the Deputy will be aware, An Agreed Programme for Government includes a commitment to examine proposals for a new independent terminal at the airport and to progress such proposals if the evidence suggests that such a terminal will deliver significant benefits.
Passenger traffic through Dublin Airport is expected to grow from last year's level of almost 16 million passengers to 30 million by approximately 2018. New infrastructure capacity and facilities, both airside and landside, will be needed to cater for this growth. Further terminal capacity will be needed in the next few years. The question at issue is not whether new terminal capacity should be provided at Dublin Airport, but rather the most appropriate mechanisms for providing such capacity.
Last year a report by a panel of experts chaired by Mr. Paddy Mullarkey assessed the independent terminal concept taking account of the expressions of interest submitted to my Department on the development of an independent, competing terminal at Dublin Airport. I recognise that an early decision is necessary on this matter so that, regardless of how it is provided, adequate terminal capacity is in place at Dublin Airport when required to meet the growth in passenger traffic. In this regard, my Department is consulting the new board of the Dublin Airport Authority and I intend to bring proposals on the matter to Government very shortly.
I am again somewhat bemused by the Minister's statement that no commitment was given by previous Ministers. The Minister is the third Minister to promise to bring proposals to Cabinet shortly. Why is further consultation on this matter needed given that the Minister has already advertised for expressions of interest and that commitments were given by the former Minister for Public Enterprise, Senator O'Rourke, the former Minister for Transport, Deputy Brennan, and now by the present Minister for Transport? It is not a question of capacity being needed in 2018, capacity is needed now and was needed years ago. Anybody who has travelled through Dublin Airport will know that it is dangerous at times given the overcrowding. When will a decision be made and is the Government committed to allowing a second terminal to proceed?
I may surprise the Deputy when we get a few decisions in the very near future. Given that I have only been Minister for Transport for six or seven weeks, I will not promise the House to make decisions very shortly and spend the rest of my two and a half years defending why I have not done so.
The Minister's predecessor had made approximately 15 decisions by that stage in office.
The Deputy can take it for certain that I will bring this matter to Government. I fully accept that a new terminal is needed at Dublin Airport — that is no longer even a debating point. The new board has recently been appointed and I have had discussions with the chairman. I want to move the matter off the agenda. The chairman is considering certain issues from the authority's perspective. I have my own views and I have had discussions with my officials on the matter. I want to get a clear picture and go back to Government as quickly as possible. I agree with the Deputy that the travelling public needs a decision made so that this facility can be put in place. It is needed for the sake of tourism, not just to facilitate the airlines. I have no difference with the Deputy on this issue.
I was delighted with Ryanair's recent decision to create a hub at Shannon. However, it is telling that no capacity exists for further growth at Dublin Airport. That emphasises the urgency of making a decision on Dublin Airport. It is the airport of our capital city and will always serve the largest centre of population. While we do not know how the airline business might change in coming years a decision is critical if Dublin is to become a hub for any airline in the future. I ask the Minister to make an early decision on the matter.
The future of air travel to and from this country is extremely upbeat. I believe the evidence is clear that all the airports in the country will experience huge growth. Aer Lingus and other airlines will have huge opportunities. Dublin is our capital city and Dublin Airport is and will continue to be our main airport and there are capacity issues there. The sooner there is a decision on this matter, the better so we can move forward. Everyone who flies into and travels out of this country will be delighted to see a second terminal in place in Dublin Airport. We can do this quickly.
