Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. The DAA has met with some residents' representatives but has not gone to a public meeting, which I think would be a good thing. It would also be good for the DAA to advertise and display the plans across the whole community. This affects a large proportion of the population on the north side of Dublin. The flight paths affect areas such as Swords, in particular the Ridgewood area, Malahide, St. Margaret's, my own area of Finglas and right across to Clontarf. Night flights are a massive issue in terms of noise pollution and the insulation of homes should be on the agenda in certain areas close to the airport. Many people bought homes in recent years thinking the airport was going to remain the same as it is but, unfortunately, they now find there is to be a second runway. It is important they are treated in a proper way and that insulation and so on can be installed.

The Minister mentioned public transport and Metro North. One of the things we badly need is a link to the airport through a metro that can serve Dublin from north to south and east to west, given this would take a massive amount of traffic off the roads annually. Metro North, to which the Minister has committed, as far as I am aware, is a very important project.

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