Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 43: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will commission a study to examine the case for a second airport in the greater Dublin-Leinster area in view of the concerns regarding traffic congestion and noise disturbance which will result from the proposed development of Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21245/05]

Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will commission an independent study, including a cost benefit analysis, with regard to the provision of a second greater Dublin-Leinster-midlands airport as an alternative to the proposed second northern parallel runway at Dublin Airport; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the chief executive of the DAA has stated that he would not be opposed to such a study although such a decision would have to be made by the Department of Transport. [21252/05]

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will take into account the need for regional balance and the national spatial strategy in any future decision with regard to the development of a new runway at Dublin Airport. [21107/05]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 192: To ask the Minister for Transport if, in relation to his Department's guidelines for the appraisal and management of capital expenditure proposals in the public sector, he is satisfied that these guidelines have been adhered to in respect of the proposal to develop a new runway at Dublin Airport; if he will provide details of the alternatives, such as a new airport which have been considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21486/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 43, 65, 105 and 192 together.

Proposals in regard to the development of Dublin Airport, including the planning and provision of runway capacity, are in the first instance a matter for the Dublin Airport Authority which has statutory responsibility to manage, operate and develop the airport and to provide such facilities and services as it considers necessary for aircraft and passengers.

Dublin Airport will remain the country's main airport serving the needs not just of the travelling public in our capital city and the surrounding counties but also of the country's tourism, business and freight sectors generally. Notwithstanding the greatly welcome increase over recent years in traffic at Shannon and Cork Airports and at the regional airports, Dublin Airport will remain crucial to the national economy. In this regard, passenger traffic through Dublin Airport is expected to grow from over 17 million last year to an estimated 23 million in 2009 and is forecast to increase to 30 million by around 2017.

It is also noteworthy that the national spatial strategy has acknowledged that the expansion of the level of air services from Dublin Airport to a wider range of destinations is essential in the interests of underpinning Ireland's future international competitiveness.

The Dublin Airport Authority submitted its application for planning permission for the new runway to Fingal County Council in December last and the current planning process provides the appropriate forum for all interested parties, including local communities and residents, to have their views and concerns heard and taken into account by the planning authorities.

Dublin Airport has the scope and potential to expand to cater for future growth in air traffic for the foreseeable future. The lands necessary for the new runway began to be acquired in the late 1960s and, as far back as 1972, the then Dublin County Council included the proposed new runway in the county development plan. Thus, as a result of good long-term planning stretching back over four decades, the capacity now exists to provide the proposed second parallel runway and facilitate the continued growth of Dublin Airport.

I have no proposal to commission any study of alternative options for the provision of airport capacity to serve the greater Dublin area. Subject to planning permission, it is envisaged that the Dublin Airport Authority will provide such capacity through the expansion of existing facilities and infrastructure at Dublin Airport. I am informed by the Dublin Airport Authority that all capital projects are subjected to rigorous appraisal procedures and ultimately board approval in compliance with the guidelines issued by the Department of Finance.