Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)

The new incentive is based on passenger numbers for the previous year. However, there has already been a considerable increase in numbers in the year to date, in the region of 4% or 5% across the airports, in line with a growth in economic activity in areas outside this jurisdiction. In light of that, is it wise to use 2010 as the base level against which a rebate will be given to the airlines? One must take into consideration that passenger numbers were depressed last year as a result of disruption arising from the volcanic ash cloud. Would there be a better saving for the Dublin Airport Authority if there were a nominal growth level and an adjusted figure for 2010 to take account of the depressed figures arising from the ash cloud?

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