Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I will try to cover all the points the Deputy has raised. Airports were discussed at the last meeting, particularly all aspects of airport development. There was no particular discussion about Cork Airport where the issue is not confusion but that the airport authorities want to get the best deal they can for development in the overall structure. The airport authority must consider the whole picture but wants to resolve this problem.

Aer Rianta invested heavily in the new terminal in Cork Airport which must be reflected in the new figures. The Dublin Airport Authority cannot undermine its own balance but all sides are anxious to resolve this problem and believe they will. The figures and analysis of that have been carried out in great detail for now and the future.

The new runway at Dublin Airport was not on the agenda. There have been a number of developments at the airport — pier D is under construction and will be open by Christmas 2008, the temporary facilities have been opened, the second runway has received planning permission and work is advancing on the second terminal. The location of a possible third terminal, in the longer term, is being considered. This is all designed to help the airport to move from its current position. Last year, the airport was working on the assumption that it would have approximately 18.5 million passengers in 2006. I understand that, based on the likely figures for the first half of this year — we are just a few days away from that — the number of passengers will probably be higher than 18.5 million. The airport is examining the infrastructure that will be needed over the next 14 years or so to accommodate approximately 30 million passengers per annum. It is not long since it was estimated that the number of passengers would reach 10 million by 2010 — there has been a significant change since then. That is where it is at. I am not aware of the analysis that is being done on the runway, to be honest, although I know all the projections show it will be badly needed. I assume the airport authority is working on it, although I have not been dealing with it in that level of detail because I was not on the committee.

The proposed new national development plan is under discussion. Deputy Kenny raised two issues relating to the national spatial strategy. The planning policy frameworks are in place. It was decided last year that the regional dimension of the next national development plan, which is being prepared, will be broadly based on the national spatial strategy. The priorities of the national spatial strategy are recognised in the regional planning guidelines and are included in the ten-year transport plan. They will also be included in the national development plan. I will pass on the Deputy's point about a certain figure in that regard. It is probably being considered in the discussions taking place at a very detailed level. It is hoped the new national development plan will be finalised towards the end of the year. The plan will need to address the investment necessary if we are to maintain national competitiveness within a sustainable economic and budgetary framework. It is clear that the issues raised by Deputy Kenny are key to that region. I think it can be dealt with within that particular area.

As the Minister said, the next national development plan will strongly support the delivery of the national spatial strategy. In particular, it will support the development of the gateways of Dublin, Cork, Galway, Wexford, Letterkenny, Derry, Dundalk, Limerick, Sligo and the midlands gateway of Athlone, Tullamore and Mullingar. It will also encompass the hubs and the rural areas and will deal with the issues of regional development. That covers the point made by Deputy Kenny. The preparation of the new plan is being co-ordinated by the Department of Finance and the Minister for Finance. Practically everyone is involved in the preparation of the plan.

The Economic and Social Research Institute, which was contracted to conduct an ex ante evaluation of the proposed plan's investment priorities, has submitted a report to the Department. I presume the points made by Deputy Kenny were considered by the ESRI in its report. Housing was not on the agenda at the last meeting, but I discussed those issues at length here within the last week, as well as at a meeting of the housing infrastructure committee on 17 May last. The disparities between Dublin and the greater Dublin areas were highlighted on those occasions. This problem is being created by over-concentration and over-development in the greater Dublin area. There is a need for clear policies building on the national spatial strategy and the programmes trying to attract new investment and move investment outside of Dublin.

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