Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

There has been a significant increase in public transport. As I said, 1,000 buses a day are going to and from the airport. This is a 10% increase on the bus services available last year. As the Deputy said, we have further bus improvements planned. There has also been a 20% increase in the number of taxi permits operating at the airport. The vast majority of passengers using taxis are able to get one within ten minutes. There are 23,000 car parking spaces at Dublin Airport. The Deputy is correct, though, that there are times, especially in the summer, when Dublin Airport advises passengers to book in advance because capacity is limited. We clearly need people to switch to public transport for the better operation of the airport and, with these improved public transport options, a better experience for passengers. I must be careful, though. It might be easy to say, "Well, wave your wand and go in and take on a commercial operation", but the competition authority has ruled in this regard concerning the one car park that was for sale. We must be careful not to intervene in a separate legal process. This will make its own way through the appropriate planning system. I believe the long-term future for Dublin Airport, which is important, is best served through the major enhancement of public transport, which is what we are doing.

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