Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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77. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has had recent engagement with the Dublin Airport Authority, DAA, regarding the development of the new runway at Dublin Airport with particular reference to its plans to seek to overturn the restrictions in the An Bord Pleanála planning permission regarding night flights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22105/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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DAA holds statutory responsibility for the management, operation and development of Dublin Airport, which includes the provision of necessary infrastructure like the North Runway Project which it announced last April. Since then, my officials receive regular updates from daa about progress being made on the project.  In addition, I met with the Chairman and the CEO of daa in June 2016 and more recently with the Chairman on 5 April 2017 during which the North Runway project was discussed.

Following their decision to proceed with the project, daa made it clear that two of the conditions attached to the planning permission were of particular concern to them in that they would result in operating restrictions across the entire airport (not just the new runway).  daa has stated its intention to seek to have these planning conditions, which they consider restrictive, altered. This position was also conveyed to me during my discussions with the daa. 

The process to alter these conditions will involve the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement.  I understand that daa have consulted widely on the content of this EIS and that feedback reports on these consultations are available on the Dublin Airport website.

As the Deputy is aware, EU Regulation 598/2014 came into force in June last year and introduces procedures with regard to the introduction of noise-related operating restrictions at EU airports employing a "balanced approach" that takes account of land-use planning and noise mitigation measures.

This is of significant interest in the context of the development of the North Runway at Dublin Airport and potential interfaces with existing environmental and planning legislation.  A statutory instrument is now being finalised to implement it into national law to provide for the designation of the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) as the competent authority to assess the noise situation at Dublin airport, to implement the balanced approach to manage noise and to undertake monitoring and enforcement actions. 

Provision will be made for appropriate collaborative working arrangements between the competent authority and other relevant statutory bodies, for robust consultation with stakeholders including local residents, and for an appropriate appeals mechanism.  The Department continues to work with the Office of the Attorney General to complete the legislative arrangements in order to give full effect to Regulation 598/2014. This will require primary legislation as well as a Statutory Instrument under the European Communities Act 1972.