Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 November 2023
150. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport his views on whether lifting the passenger cap at Dublin Airport is compatible with averting further global heating; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50234/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraA passenger cap of 32 million passengers per annum is currently in place at Dublin Airport. This passenger cap is a planning condition attached to planning permission granted for Terminal 2 (condition 3). The condition was put in place principally to limit the amount of traffic pressure on the access road infrastructure at Dublin Airport.
daa has statutory responsibility for the management, operation, and development of Dublin Airport. This includes applying for planning permission for increasing the passenger cap and any infrastructure development at the airport required to support connectivity.
Currently daa anticipates that unconstrained demand for international travel could approach or exceed the 32m passenger cap in 2024. In this regard, I am aware that daa intends to submit a planning application shortly to Fingal County Council to allow it to grow beyond the 32m passenger cap to 40m passengers and for all associated infrastructure required to support this increase in passengers including the construction of new aircraft piers and stands.
Increasing the capacity of Dublin airport is in line with national aviation policy which recognises the strategic importance of Dublin Airport in meeting national social and economic policy goals and includes a specific objective of developing Dublin Airport as a hub airport with the necessary capacity to connect key existing and emerging global markets.
As part of its infrastructure investment plan, daa plans to invest €400m in the next four years in sustainable infrastructure upgrades such as solar PV and a widescale electrification of its fleet. This is part of the development required to achieve its stated goal to reduce carbon emissions by 51% by 2030 and to be net-zero by 2050.
Efforts to mitigate the climate impact of air transport operations are generally being pursued internationally through what are known as a 'basket of measures' which include operational efficiencies, technology innovations, sustainable aviation fuels and market-based measures.
My Department has been engaged in work at both EU and international level to develop measures that aim to decarbonise the industry. The most notable of these is the EU-Emissions Trading Scheme which has included aviation since 2012. A more ambitious approach to this Scheme was agreed this year which provides for the phasing out of free allowances to air operators requiring them to either reduce their emissions or purchase additional emissions credits.
Last month, the Refuel EU Aviation Regulation was published the aim of which is to increase the availability of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) across the EU while maintaining a level playing field. From 2025, it will oblige fuel suppliers to make increasing levels of SAF available, blended with jet fuel, at Union airports, while Union airport management bodies are required to take all necessary measures to facilitate the access of operators to such fuel.
At the same time Aircraft operators will be required to uplift at least 90% of their journey fuel requirement before departing a Union airport to avoid fuel tankering. The SAF industry is a nascent one, and it is anticipated that the introduction of mandates at EU level will provide an appropriate signal to the production industry that there will be a market for these types of fuels.
My officials are also establishing a SAF Task Force to bring together relevant stakeholders with responsibility or interest in SAF policy development.
The main goal of the Task Force will be to assist the Department with the development of a national SAF Policy Roadmap which will help guide policy development and identify the actions necessary to ensure that Ireland can play its part in helping to decarbonise aviation.
