Council refuses Daa's 'invalid' planning bid to raise passenger capacity

In the order from the council's chief executive, it highlights how proposals to increase the capacity in the airport from 32 million passengers per year to 36 million defines how both figures would be counted using 'entirely different' methodologies. File photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

A planning application to raise the passenger capacity at Dublin Airport to 36 million passengers has been declared invalid by Fingal County Council.

In a statement on Tuesday evening, the council said the high-profile planning bid was invalid because it failed to comply with sections of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001.

“It is also invalid because the proposed description of the development in the public notices is non-compliant with the relevant regulations and is inadequate and misleading,” Fingal County Council said.

“It is a matter of great concern to the Planning Authority that such a significant planning application is invalid. Pre-planning is available to assist applicants but did not take place for this application.” 

In the order from the chief executive, it highlights how proposals to increase the capacity in the airport from 32 million passengers per year to 36 million defines how both figures would be counted using “entirely different” methodologies.

“This is confusing and/or misleading and wholly unnecessary," the order states.

Earlier on Tuesday, DAA said that the overall figure of 33.3 million passengers through its terminals last year would have been higher if not for the passenger cap.

Tonight it said it is "baffled and bewildered by this bizarre flip-flop by Fingal County Council".

"FCC’s planners twice confirmed the validity of daa’s ‘no build’ application on December 23 and again on January 6 – yet this evening sent out a media statement saying it was invalid," it said.

"daa lodged this straightforward ‘no build’ application to provide a short-term solution to the planning cap impasse but FCC refuses to be pragmatic about this issue of national importance, despite allowing for 40 million in its own development plan.

"This ‘Snakes and Ladders’ approach to planning shows why decisions about Dublin Airport should be made at a national level by An Bord Pleanála and not locally by FCC."

On December 20, daa lodged a ‘no build’ Operational Application (OA) with Fingal County Council (FCC) seeking permission to lift the passenger cap to 36 million a year, it had said.

“As the application does not seek permission to build any infrastructure, daa hopes that it can move swiftly through the planning system and provide a short-term solution to the terminals cap impasse impacting Ireland’s connectivity, tourism and economy.“