Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on the capacity of Dublin Airport to cope with increasing passenger numbers at the airport, particularly during the peak summer months over the coming two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13119/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I understand from the Dublin Airport Authority, DAA, that the company will use slot co-ordination and operational planning to reduce congestion at Dublin Airport during the 2007 high season. The Commission for Aviation Regulation announced its decision on 12 February last to designate Dublin Airport as a co-ordinated airport for the summer 2007 season and the DAA is confident that this will help reduce congestion during peak hours. Under this process, an independent co-ordinator will allocate take-off and landing slots at the airport, up to but not exceeding the agreed operating capacity limits. In common with other co-ordinated airports, airlines will have no discretion and must accede to the slots allocated by the independent co-ordinator.

In addition, the company has informed me of a number of capacity enhancement projects that are planned for the 2007 summer season. These include the opening of a new check-in area — area 14 — to provide an additional 25 check-in desks, while the arrivals roadway is being altered to facilitate additional passenger access to this area; additional security points at the security search area to increase the processing capability; additional customer service staff will be provided; and a new coach park has been built providing direct access to the arrivals and departures areas by way of a travelator.

In addition, pier D is currently under construction and it is hoped to have this completed by the end of this year. This will provide a net additional ten aircraft parking stands at the airport. Planning permission is also being sought for a new extension to terminal 1. This extension is scheduled to be completed in autumn 2008 but will be delivered on a phased basis, with the first element due for use in spring 2008. The 7,750 sq. m extension will be located at the north-western corner of terminal 1 and will expand the existing terminal at the departures, arrivals and mezzanine levels.

For more long-term capacity enhancements, the DAA has embarked under its capital investment programme on the development of terminal 2 and the associated pier facilities to be constructed close to the existing terminal. Fingal County Council granted planning permission for the project in October 2006 and this is now under appeal to An Bord Pleanála. I am assured that the DAA is working to the Government deadline to have the terminal operational by 2009. Finally, the DAA is at the planning stages for the construction of a second parallel runway which will provide for significant additional capacity at the airport.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I accept that the DAA is doing its best, in the difficult circumstances in which it finds itself, to maximise the use of what space is available at the airport. I welcome the move to slot co-ordination. However, on its own admission the DAA has accepted that it does not have any room for the expansion of services in Dublin Airport, despite the demand for increased services. The implementation of the open skies agreement is imminent. The potential of that agreement cannot be realised as a result of the lack of capacity at the airport.

The Minister spoke about new facilities being launched at the airport. However, that is reorganised space, not new space. The tent the airport was seeking 18 months ago is still not in place. The terminal has not been begun and planning permission for it has not been secured. There is a long lead-in time for all aviation projects and the tardy decision on this means we are badly handicapped in terms of providing services. The airport does not have sufficient apron, security, immigration or cargo space, not to mention terminals for the passengers. There are insufficient stands. Next year, the situation will be worse.

The Minister said pier D will provide ten extra places. In fact, many of the existing places, and more than the ten extra being provided, will be gone next year if the work on the terminal goes ahead, which we hope it will. The situation next year will be worse than it was last year. Will the Minister explain why the Government failed to make any decisions on aviation until it was too late? Dublin Port is out of capacity and no decision has been made on its future. Dublin Airport is out of capacity and, again, no decisions were made for the future. Will the Minister explain why this was allowed to happen during his term in office? Ireland has been virtually turned into a blockaded island in terms of its competitiveness, its ability to attract new tourists and even its ability to give choice to passengers. We are stuck with two airlines that are hardly competing with each other but no other additional airlines can come into the country. Our trade, competitiveness and passengers are being disadvantaged.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I disagree with the Deputy. With regard to area 14, the DAA invested €15 million to transform what was a basement storage area into a new, modern check-in zone. It was never used as that previously. It will accommodate 25 check-in desks and eight new ticket sales desks, and it will be capable of handling up to 4 million passengers per annum. This is significant additional capacity.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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It will not be possible to bring 4 million extra passengers into the airport——

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy accused me of not making decisions, which is strange.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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——unless they are brought there by train.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I was appointed to this Ministry at the end of 2004. I have taken all the decisions on aviation and with regard to Dublin Airport. We launched the plan for the development of the airport. The Deputy could help me by talking to the people who are lodging objection after objection and trying to delay, stop and impede the development——

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Government knew that was going to happen. Why did it not make an early decision?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Regardless of whether the Deputy likes it, we live in a democracy and there are processes and people are entitled to object to particular developments. Unfortunately, many people have objected and that is causing us difficulty in terms of the delivery. I congratulate the management and staff of the Dublin Airport Authority because, as the Deputy rightly noted, they are coping with an extraordinary increase in passenger numbers at Dublin Airport. They did so last summer with a substantial increase and, in the public's perception, managed it extremely well, notwithstanding the difficulties.

I have outlined the new facilities being put in place for this year's summer season. The Dublin Airport Authority has done everything humanly possible to meet the demands of all the different customers, received planning permission from the local authority and is tied up with An Bord Pleanála with regard to getting a final decision. I hope we get a decision on terminal two as quickly as possible because that will be delivered by 2009. That, with the developments in place between now and 2009 which have realistic, albeit tight, timeframes, will transform the ability of Dublin Airport to deal with its passengers. We will then have a capacity of well in excess of 30 million passengers at Dublin Airport, where we are currently serving approximately 22 million. In fairness to the authority, the decisions are made, the plans have been drawn up, planning permission has been approved and the matter is with An Bord Pleanála. All the ancillary developments, be it pier D or opening up the new area 14 to cater for 4 million passengers this year, will be in place this year.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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In view of the point made by the Minister about the long lead-in time of aviation decisions before they appear on the ground, what measures have been taken to progress terminal three, which is the competing terminal?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I am currently focusing on terminal two, which is the immediate priority. I know the company has had discussions with some of the land holders at Dublin Airport. It is looking at the configuration and reconfiguration of the airport and the possibilities beyond the immediate delivery of terminal two in less than two years' time. Although I have seen no plans, I am aware that discussions have taken place with different property owners and developers within the land-bank that would be contiguous or part of the Dublin Airport Authority development to prepare for terminal three to be put in place.