John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 38: To ask the Minister for Transport and the Marine if he remains confident that the second terminal at Dublin Airport will be fully operational by 2009; if he has discussed a contingency plan with the Dublin Airport Authority in the event of the terminal being behind schedule. [18140/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Aviation Action Plan, adopted by Government in May 2005 mandated the building of the second terminal at 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 significant growth in passenger numbers there in recent years.

Under the DAA Capital Investment Programme, provision is made for the delivery of Terminal Two and associated pier facilities (Pier E). Fingal County Council granted planning permission for the project in October 2006 and this was subject to an appeal to An Bord Pleanála. An oral hearing was held by An Bord Pleanála into the planning permission during April this year. The outcome of that oral hearing is awaited. I am assured that the DAA is focused on meeting the Government deadline which is dependent on a timely and favourable planning decision, but in the absence of a decision on planning it is impossible to give a definitive time scale.