Written answers

Tuesday, 2 November 2004

9:00 pm

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Transport the position with regard to the establishment of a second terminal at Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26951/04]

Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 179: To ask the Minister for Transport if a decision has been taken to proceed with a second terminal for Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27001/04]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 372: To ask the Minister for Transport his proposals for the future of air transport here with particular reference to Dublin and other airports and required terminal facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27285/04]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 172, 179 and 372 together.

It is the policy of the Government to encourage as wide a range as possible of reliable, regular and competitive air services to and from Ireland. The central tenet of this policy is the belief that a strong, competitive and efficient network of air links are vitally important for developing our trade and tourism sectors, particularly having regard to our island status and peripheral location.

Passenger traffic through Dublin Airport is expected to grow from last year's level of almost 16 million passengers to 30 million by around 2018. New infrastructure capacity and facilities, both airside and landside, will be needed to cater for this growth including further terminal capacity. With regard to the latter, the programme for Government includes a commitment to examine proposals for a new independent terminal at the airport and to progress such proposals if the evidence suggests that such a terminal will deliver significant benefits.

The question currently at issue, therefore, is not whether new terminal capacity should be provided at Dublin Airport but rather the most appropriate mechanisms for providing such capacity.

Last year a report by a panel of experts chaired by Mr. Paddy Mullarkey assessed the independent terminal concept taking account of the expressions of interest submitted to my Department on the development of an independent, competing terminal at Dublin Airport.

I recognise that an early decision is desirable in relation to this matter so that, regardless of how it is provided, adequate terminal capacity is in place at Dublin Airport when required to meet the growth in passenger traffic. In this regard, my Department is consulting the new board of the Dublin Airport Authority and I intend to bring proposals on the matter to the Government in due course.

Shannon Airport has capacity to handle up to 4.5 million passengers per annum compared to a passenger throughput of 2.4 million in 2003 while work is proceeding on the major new terminal development works at Cork Airport.

In terms of capital funding for our regional airports, grant aid of approximately €9 million has been paid under first round allocations of the regional airports measure of the national development plan. The primary objective of this measure is to facilitate continued safe and viable operations at regional airports. A further round of projects is being considered.

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