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Dublin Airport's application to raise cap to 36-million passengers rejected as 'invalid'

Dublin Airport's application to increase their annual passenger cap to 36-million passengers has been rejected as "invalid" by the Planning Authority.
Sarah McKenna Barry
Sarah McKenna Barry

19.52 14 Jan 2025


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Dublin Airport's application t...

Dublin Airport's application to raise cap to 36-million passengers rejected as 'invalid'

Sarah McKenna Barry
Sarah McKenna Barry

19.52 14 Jan 2025


Share this article


Dublin Airport's application to increase their annual passenger cap to 36-million passengers has been rejected as "invalid" by Fingal County Council.

Fingal County Council issued a statement this evening saying the application fails to comply with three articles of the Planning and Development regulations.

Additionally, the statement said the daa's proposed description of the development in the public notices is "non-compliant with the relevant regulations" and is "inadequate and misleading".

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"It is a matter of great concern to the Planning Authority that such a significant planning application is invalid," the statement said.

"Pre-planning is available to assist applicants but did not take place for this application."

The application was part of the daa's application to increase the terminals' combined cap to 40-million per year.

Terminal 1 at Dublin Airport Terminal 1 at Dublin Airport, Alamy

Currently, the airport can cater for 32-million passengers annually.

On Newstalk Breakfast, Irish Tourism Industry Confederation CEO Eoghan O’Mara Walsh said the passenger cap on Dublin Airport means Ireland will gradually “lose business to the UK and Europe”.

“About 70% of the Irish tourism economy is made up of international visitation,” he said.

“So, if we want to grow in the future - and we’re cautiously optimistic - some of the obstacles and the roadblocks need to be moved out of the way.

“The biggest single one is the passenger cap at Dublin Airport; Cork is doing fairly well, Shannon is doing fairly well - but growth at those airports is never going to compensate for lost business at Dublin.

“So, it’s a big, big issue and the incoming Government has got to get real and it’s got to get serious about it.”

Legal process

Previously, outgoing Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said it would not be appropriate for him to intervene into the passenger cap debate.

Mr Ryan said the matter is a "legal process" and a decision for Fingal County Council.

However, other members of the Green Party, such as former MEP Ciarán Cuffe, have opposed raising it because of their concern about its impact on carbon emissions.

Feature image: Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport, Alamy


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