'No plan' for residents if Dublin Airport passenger cap is lifted

Oireachtas transport committee also hears that the passenger cap is 'a key guardrail to curb aviation fossil fuel pollution in Ireland'

Campaigners from Children’s Rights over Flights and Irish Doctors for the Environment outside the Dáil yesterday where they tore up a copy of a proposed bill that would allow the transport minister to abolish the Dublin Airport passenger cap. Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews

There is "no plan" for residents around Dublin Airport if the existing passenger cap is lifted, an Oireachtas committee has been told.

The Oireachtas transport committee met to discuss new laws brought to Cabinet last month, which would end the existing restrictions at the capital's airport.

The legislation will give the transport minister powers to either revoke or amend the existing 32m passenger cap. It also precludes the introduction of a future cap on passengers for Dublin Airport.

Dublin Airport operator Daa has repeatedly called for the cap to be lifted, stating there is a need to increase the number to 40m per year.

The cap was initially introduced in 2007 as a planning condition for the construction of Terminal 2, with concerns raised about its potential impact on roads in North Dublin.

The Government is also arguing that removing the cap will ensure Daa’s infrastructure application can proceed to a decision without delay.

During Wednesday's hearing, Liam O’Gradaigh from the St Margaret’s The Ward Residents Group said that the legislation has no plan for existing residents, who have long complained about the noise and health impacts of flight paths at Dublin Airport.

"I grew up on our family farm, which has been in our family for three generations and predates the opening of Dublin Airport. We did not move to the noise; the noise moved to us.

"The area of St Margaret’s and The Ward is subjected to both daytime and nighttime flights irrespective of wind direction. 

"There is no getting away from the noise and air pollution. We want to be clear from the outset that we are not against airport expansion, once it adheres to proper planning and sustainable development."

'9.4m more passengers than permitted'

Mr O'Gradaigh said that Dublin Airport has handled 9.4m more passengers than permitted by its planning permissions. This amounts to €213m earned from unauthorised development. In stark contrast, "the Daa has spent just €23m to date on required insulation and voluntary purchase schemes", he said.

Gareth O'Brien from the North Runway Technical Group — a group of commercial pilots, civil engineers, aviation safety specialists, and affected residents — said that "Ireland has no oversight of aviation that is both competent and independent" and that the bill was a choice for politicians.

"As well as aircraft noise, every passenger creates a load on the ESB, the water supply, the sewage network, and the treatment plant at Ringsend, all needed for new housing across Greater Dublin. 

"This bill removes the only control on that load, giving the members of the Oireachtas a choice — choose unlimited aviation or choose housing. This bill puts them in direct conflict."

Louise O’Leary, from Children’s Rights Over Flights, said that the Government's bill was bad for the environment and the health of local people, and called for it to be withdrawn.

"It should never have been drafted in the first place. In the absence of national aviation policy aligned with best available science, it would remove a key guardrail to curb aviation fossil fuel pollution in Ireland — which is already at record-breaking levels. 

"The increasing gravity of the State-declared climate emergency must be the primary context within which this bill is considered."

• Paul Hosford, Acting Political Editor