Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 476: To ask the Minister for Transport the situation regarding the provision of Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38990/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Aviation Action Plan, adopted by Government in May 2005, mandated the building of a second terminal in Dublin airport by the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA). This decision was driven by the urgent need to provide for additional capacity at the airport in response to the phenomenal growth in passenger numbers there in recent years.

Given this mandate it is now the responsibility of the DAA to proceed with meeting the Government's objective of having this new terminal in place by 2009.

The present position with regard to the proposed new terminal is that the planning application was approved, with conditions, by Fingal County Council in October last. The application was submitted following wide-ranging consultation with users, statutory authorities and other interested parties. Subject to the outcome of the planning process, construction of the new terminal will begin in summer 2007.

The consultants appointed by my Department to verify the specification and cost of T2 concluded that the methodology, approach and execution of the planning objectives and considerations for passengers adopted by the DAA accords with best practice. They also found that the estimated cost of the new terminal is within industry norms for this type of project in a European capital city.