Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 44: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on his recent direction to the Aviation Regulator to set passenger charges at Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45994/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 61: To ask the Minister for Transport the extent to which all airport charges and other costs for airlines operating from airports in this jurisdiction compare with the costs in other jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45902/09]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 72: To ask the Minister for Transport the position regarding terminal two at Dublin Airport; when terminal two will be operational; the estimated number of passengers that will use terminal two in its first year of operation; if he will explain his recent announcements on the funding of terminal two and on the aviation regulations; his views on reports of an estimated 12.55% decline in passenger numbers at Dublin Airport in the first nine months of 2009, the estimated reductions of approximately 17% in Cork and 9% in Shannon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45863/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 44, 61 and 72 together.

I have been informed by the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) that the construction of terminal 2 (T2) will be completed early next year and that the terminal will become operational, on a phased basis, in 2010. DAA estimate that approximately 35% - 40% of total passengers at Dublin Airport will use T2 in its first year of operation.

In relation to the funding of T2, DAA operates under a clear commercial mandate and its capital investment programme, including T2, is funded without exchequer support. The remuneration of investment in T2 is dependent on the overall level of airport charges at Dublin airport, as determined by the Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR), which regulates airport charges at Dublin Airport.

On 27 October I issued a general policy direction to CAR under Section 10 of the Aviation Regulation Act 2001. In it I drew the Commissioner's attention to stated Government policy on the development of T2. CAR's final determination on airport charges has now been published and I note that the Commission is satisfied that the determination complies with my direction. I understand that the DAA are now reviewing the determination to assess its likely impact on the operation of the airport.

Airport charges at Cork and Shannon Airports are set by the relevant airport authority while charges at the six regional airports, which are owned and operated independently, are a matter for each airport concerned.

In relation to comparative charges at airports outside this jurisdiction, I have been informed by the DAA that independent research indicates that charges at Dublin are towards the lower end of a broad comparison group of the top airports in Europe. Data extracted from the independently produced Jacobs 'Review of Airport Charges 2008' Report, which ranks charges from most to least expensive, show that Dublin Airport's charges are ranked 29th of 50 in its European airport survey. I also understand from the DAA that charges at Cork and Shannon also compare favourably with European benchmarks.

I have no function in relation to airline operating costs.

I understand from the DAA that passenger numbers for the first nine months of 2009 are down 12.5%, 8% and 16% at Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports respectively. This decline in traffic reflects the continued fallout from the global financial crisis and the severe decline in the Irish economy.