Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 345: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on the advantages that would arise from a second airport serving the greater Dublin area, Leinster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6154/08]

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 346: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will have the value for money implications of an alternative second airport analysed as part of his appraisal of Dublin Airport's expansion plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6155/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 345 and 346 together.

I am satisfied that Dublin Airport has the capacity to expand to meet our aviation traffic needs for the foreseeable future. Because of the prudent policy of acquiring land banks in the environs of the airport to cater for future growth, the Dublin Airport Authority is now in the happy position of being able to undertake the second terminal and second runway on land it already owns.

With traffic of 23 million passengers in 2007, Dublin Airport will remain the country's main airport serving the needs not just the needs of the travelling public in the surrounding counties but also of the country's tourism, business and freight sectors generally. The National Spatial Strategy has acknowledged that the expansion of air services from Dublin Airport to a wider range of destinations is essential in the interests of underpinning Ireland's future international competitiveness. Also, DAA has a commercial mandate to develop Dublin Airport and DAA is also required to comply with the Department of Finance capital appraisal guidelines, as appropriate to a commercial SSB. DAA has also received planning permission for the proposed second terminal and second runway. Accordingly, the question of analysing the merits of an alternative second airport for Dublin does not arise at this juncture.