Michael Kennedy (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)

The reality is that the hangar Ryanair is constructing at Prestwick Airport is smaller than any of hangars at Dublin Airport. I understand this hangar will measure between 5,000 sq. m to 6,000 sq. m. Hangar 1 at Dublin Airport measures 8,400 sq. m, hangar 2 measures 5,300 sq. m, hangar 3 measures 8,300 sq. m, hangar 4 measures 5,400 sq. m, hangar 5 and hangar six measures 24,848 sq. m. The hangar at Prestwick will be almost five times smaller than hangar 6 at Dublin Airport. Why are Ryanair and Mr. O'Leary adamant that they must get their hands on the latter?

I accept that Mr. O'Leary wants to create 300 jobs and I would welcome such an eventuality. However, I do not believe hangar 6 is the key to the creation of those jobs. When I asked Mr. O'Leary about the size of the Prestwick hangar this morning, he was not in a position to provide an answer. Perhaps he does not know what will be its dimensions. If that is the case, I find it strange. I want to know what will be the exact dimensions of that plant. If it will be possible to accommodate 200 employees at a hangar measuring 5,000 sq. m, then surely a hangar measuring 7,000 sq. m to 8,000 sq. m would be required to accommodate 300 employees. Any of the existing hangars at Dublin Airport could facilitate Ryanair in this regard.

As a Deputy representing Dublin North, I want the Dublin Airport to be viable and I want Aer Lingus and other airlines flying out of the facility to thrive. I also want the Dublin Airport Authority, which is a major employer in the region, to continue to operate a good, cost-effective service. Dublin Aerospace, a small company, has created 100 jobs and not the derisory 30 jobs to which Deputy Reilly referred. It has plans to create a further 250 jobs.

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