Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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258.To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the Dublin Airport passenger cap and its potential impact on the economy (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.[35107/24]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 248 and 258 together.

Increasing capacity at Dublin Airport is in line with the National Aviation Policy which recognises the strategic importance of Dublin Airport to meeting national social and economic policy goals and also includes the objective to develop Dublin Airport as a secondary hub airport.

Dublin airport is currently constrained by a “passenger cap” which is a planning condition attached to the grant of planning permission for Terminal 2 in 2007. That condition (condition 3) states that “the combined capacity of Terminal 2 as permitted together with Terminal 1 shall not exceed 32 million passengers per annum unless otherwise authorised by a further grant of planning permission”.

As statutory responsibility for the development of Dublin Airport rests with the daa, it is for daa to engage with the relevant planning authorities to ensure that appropriate planning consents are secured to facilitate the development of the airport including in relation to the passenger cap.

In this regard, daa submitted a planning application to Fingal County Council in December 2023 seeking to increase the passenger cap to 40m and seeking planning permission for the development of infrastructure to support increased passenger numbers.

As all planning matters, including planning applications, are matters for the relevant statutory independent bodies, it is not appropriate for me to intervene in what is a live planning application.

I note however that a related planning application, concerning the operating restrictions on the runway at Dublin airport at night will have a bearing on the current application by daa to lift the passenger cap and that planning application remains with An Bórd Pleanála since August 2022. I keenly await the outcome of that decision which should assist in progressing the other application.

While the impact of the current constraint in terms of future growth at Dublin Airport is recognised, it is important to note that there are no capacity constraints at Ireland’s other State airports - Shannon and Cork. There is also capacity available at our other regional airports which can be utilised to maintain connectivity to Ireland.

The Irish Aviation Authority has set a passenger seat upper limit for winter 2024 in the context of the 32m passenger cap. The IAA’s decision means that all airlines historic winter slots for scheduled operations will be maintained but the availability of slots for ‘ad hoc’ and charter flights this winter may be limited.

I share the Deputy’s concern regarding the cap being reached at Dublin Airport. However, there are several other airports that exist in the State, none of which have a cap on growth, or connections given the spare capacity in place. I am actively engaged in a series of consultations with all stakeholders including the airlines, the regulator, the daa and others to proactively manage this situation whilst the cap is in place.

There is no impediment to any airline or business introducing charter services at Irish airports, other than Dublin, for upcoming sporting events. I would encourage airlines to explore these options as an alternative to Dublin Airport until planning permission may be granted for the lifting of the passenger cap.