A Fine Gael Senator has hit out at Dublin Airport’s proposed new charges for drop offs, accusing them of overseeing a “money grab”. 

Independent councillor Joe Newman has lodged an appeal against the proposal with An Bord Pleanála and Emer Currie has included a submission: 

“Dublin Airport Authority have claimed this is part of their sustainability agenda and it’s to improve congestion around the airport,” Senator Currie told Newstalk Breakfast. 

“So people will face a toll when they drop people off directly at the terminal and it’s to encourage public transport. 

“But I think there’s been a lot of scratched heads because there isn’t enough public transport links to the airport at the moment. 

“In my own area, which is Dublin 15, not too far from the airport, we’re not going to see links until at least 2024.” 

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She continued: 

“It isn’t going to improve congestion, it’s not going to get people onto public transport and therefore it’s really nothing more than a money grab.” 

However, regardless of the public transport links, Senator Currie thinks the airport shouldn’t make it harder for people to drive there if they want to: 

“In my view people should be able to do that [drive to the airport] if they want to do that, [then] they should have the option of doing that,” she said. 

Planes are seen at Dublin Airport in April 2021. Picture by: Sasko Lazarov / RollingNews.ie

In a statement to Newstalk, Dublin Airport said: 

“We note the appeal to the recent granting of planning permission by Fingal County Council. 

“Our focus right now is on the restoration of efficient operations at Dublin Airport as passengers numbers rebound following two years of very low numbers due to the pandemic. 

“Our top priority at the moment is to ensure a speedy return to the exceptional passenger experience that people have come to expect from Dublin Airport.”

An Bord Pleanála is expected to make a decision by August.

Main image: An exterior view of Dublin Airport's Terminal 2 is seen in August 2011. Picture by: Ros Drinkwater / Alamy Stock Photo