Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 18: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has been briefed by the Dublin Airport Authority on proposals to postpone the development of a second runway at Dublin Airport and to apply for permission for a longer second runway; his views on these proposals; his further views on proposals for the development of new airport facilities including in the midlands and west Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13678/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Proposals in relation to the development of Dublin Airport are, in the first instance, a matter for the DAA, 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. Accordingly, any proposals for the postponement of the second runway or for the provision of a longer runway are matters that fall within the responsibility of the management and board of the DAA. DAA received planning permission in August 2007 to construct a 3,110 metre northern parallel runway, subject to conditions. Given the economic downturn in the economy, DAA has deferred the immediate construction of the runway.

As part of the consultation process with users and the Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR), DAA has indicated that it believes the most prudent approach to determining the construction start date for the Northern runway is to identify certain key trigger points that will signal the return to traffic growth. The trigger mechanisms proposed by the DAA relate to the impact of such traffic growth on runway availability in demand for runway slots. Using these return to growth triggers should allow DAA to bring the new runway into service just as demand requires it. While construction of the runway has been deferred, DAA is continuing with the planning and design of the runway project so that it can be ready to begin construction as soon as the triggers come into play.

In relation to the development of new airports private interests may develop airports in whatever location they wish, provided that the requirements of the Irish Aviation Authority are met and that planning permission is secured. I should point out that the financial demands of running an airport are very challenging and it is, of course, a matter for the promoters to satisfy themselves that a new airport can function as a viable commercial entity. My Department has no plans to support the development of any new airports.