Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

This is a facility that provides a competitive advantage for Shannon. Its cost of €20 million has to be paid in some way. The Dublin Airport Authority will pay the initial capital cost. The costs will be recouped from the people who use it, in return for the convenience of being precleared. Such people will not be delayed at the far side when they arrive in the United States. It is an advantage to Shannon Airport. The recoupment cost is obviously based on the number of passengers who go through. If the number of passengers using Shannon Airport increases substantially, I expect the cost per passenger to decrease. The costs that will apply at Dublin Airport have not been calculated. That will be done on the same basis as at Shannon Airport. It is obvious that the cost can be spread over the greater number of passengers who go through Dublin Airport.

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