My Department’s focus is on ensuring that we have the optimum network for Ireland given the importance of international connectivity for the wellbeing of the country. That involves having a strong airport in our capital city, as well as strong airports in Cork and Shannon, complemented by the smaller regional airports. I do not accept the view that there is a question of developing one airport, either Dublin or one of the other airports around the country at the expense of another. Ireland’s airports all have their roles to play in providing connectivity to their respective areas and for their contribution to the Irish economy.
Project Ireland 2040 supports high quality International connectivity investments consistent with sectoral priorities already defined through the National Aviation Policy. Significant investment in Ireland’s airports will play a major role in safeguarding and enhancing Ireland’s international connectivity which is fundamental to our international competitiveness, trading performance and attractiveness to foreign direct investment.
The National Aviation Policy also recognises the important role of Shannon Airport in the economic and social fabric of Mid-West Region. The airport enjoys the advantage of full US Preclearance as well as the longest runway in Ireland and the ability to handle all aircraft types. These features underpin the airport’s ambitions to develop niche opportunities in aeronautical and aerospace engineering. This was integral to the aim of Government in the separation of Shannon Airport from daa and the establishment of Shannon Group in 2014.
A maximum cap of movements at Schiphol Airport was stipulated by the Alders Agreement in 2008 and later modified. It is my understanding that the objective of the Alders Agreement was to balance the development of aviation and noise reduction measures to increase the quality of the living environment in proximity to the Airport. Substantive plans for the further development of Schiphol were therefore drawn up and a balance was struck between the further growth of the sector and local quality of life and safety.
In Ireland these would potentially be considered operating restrictions which are governed by EU Regulation 598/2014 and the provision of the Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Act 2019 which was enacted on 22 May 2019. The Act provides a wholly independent aircraft noise regulation process, ensuring that all future development at Dublin Airport is subject to assessment and mitigation in respect of the impact of associated aircraft movements on the noise environment around Dublin Airport. Under section 4 of the Act the competent authority has exclusive competence in relation to operating restrictions at Dublin Airport.
The aircraft noise regulation process is tied in with the planning process, which provides safeguards against any award of planning permission until such time as the proposal has been screened and then may be fully assessed in relation to aviation noise impacts. Specifically, the Act provides that all planning applications at Dublin Airport are copied to the Noise Regulator to consider if there are any noise implications that would require an assessment under EU Regulation 598/2014. The Noise Regulator is an independent unit within Fingal County Council (ANCA - Aircraft Noise Competent Authority). If the Noise Regulator determines that there are potential noise impacts then it instigates a detailed noise assessment process – in accordance with the EU Regulation – and the planning authority cannot make any final decisions until there is a regulatory determination on noise.
For the daa, this new regime applies to all future development applications at the Airport, but also any amendments it may seek to existing planning permissions. These are statutorily independent processes, which include detailed technical assessments, environmental assessments and public consultation. For the new North Runway project at Dublin Airport, daa are expected to submit a revised planning application with regard to operating restrictions in the near future.
