Plans to charge people to pick up and drop off passengers at Dublin Airport are 'premature' until there's better public transport, a local councillor has said.
Over the weekend, Dublin Airport Authority announced the plans in a bid to cut down on the number of car journeys to and from the airport, although noted that the measure wouldn't be introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Similar paid zones are already in Cork and Belfast airports, as well as in others in Britain and Europe.
However, concerns have already been raised about the proposal - including over the lack of direct public transport between the airport and many parts of the country (including parts of county Dublin).
Speaking to Henry McKean for The Hard Shoulder, Fingal Councillor Tom O'Leary said a "Drop Off and Pick Up" zone system does work in parts of Europe - but we need to have additional public transport in place before considering it for Dublin.
He explained: "I'm not happy with the proposal by DAA to charge for drop-off and collection... they have it in Europe, but they've got wonderful public transport systems in Europe.
"Lyon, Paris, Frankfurt, you name it... you can get good public transport to and from the airport. You mightn't need a drop on, drop off... but if f you do, you may be charged - but you have the alternative of public transport.
"It's premature in my view - they should wait until Metro North or Metro Dublin is in, which services the airport, and look at it then maybe."
The MetroLink project - currently planned to be completed by 2027 - aims at bringing a metro route between Swords and Charlemont, including a stop at Dublin Airport.
Cllr O'Leary said that maybe the drop-off situation here needs to be 'regularised' in the meantime, but the public transport aspect is what's currently missing for the country's largest airport.
He said: "A lot of jobs are in trouble - we need to treat this responsibly, and be careful what we do at the airport to try and revive it.
"It will revive, but it will take a year and a half maybe, or more."
A free drop off and pick up option will continue to be available after the new zones have been introduced by using a new dedicated area in the Express Red long-term car park. A new reduced fee 30-minute parking period will also be introduced at Dublin Airport’s short-term car parks, which are located beside the passenger terminals.
