Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 35 together.

Following a wide-ranging consultation process involving users, statutory authorities and other interested parties, the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) recently published its proposals for a second terminal at Dublin Airport (T2). A detailed planning application for the terminal and related facilities was submitted to Fingal County Council on 31 August 2006. Subject to the outcome of the planning process, construction of the new terminal will begin in summer 2007.

The DAA has informed me that as part of this consultation process it was made aware of the updated expansion of some of the key airlines operating out of Dublin Airport. To accommodate this growth the DAA decided to develop a 75,000 sq. metre terminal instead of the initially planned 50,000 metre facility. This 50% expansion in the scale of the development, and the attendant increase in the complexity of some of its features, are the key reasons for the increase in the cost of the facility which is now estimated to be €395m and which will be funded by the DAA. DAA is working to deliver the terminal by late 2009.

The consultants appointed by my Department to verify the specification and cost of the proposed Terminal Two at Dublin Airport, have now completed their work and submitted their report. The following are the main findings of the Boyd Creed Sweett report:

the consultation process with stakeholders in the development of requirements for the new terminal and the methodology, approach and execution of the planning objectives and considerations for passengers accords with best practice;

the development of the structural proposals is in accordance with best practice and the scheme chosen is comparable with that used in similar airport terminal buildings;

the estimated cost of Terminal Two on a cost per square metre basis lies at the mid point range of a UK terminal buildings benchmarking study; and

the benchmarking study and the Terminal Two cost plan have been independently verified by the consultants, who conclude that the estimated cost of the new terminal is within industry norms for this type of project in a European capital city.

It is envisaged by the DAA that additional terminal facilities will be required after 2015. Fingal County Council has included provision for a third terminal on the western campus in its Dublin Airport Masterplan in June last and this is an important aspect of facilitating timely additional capacity.