Airport oral hearing expenditure questioned

DUBLIN Airport will undergo further construction next month when work on the multi million euro extension of the main terminal gets underway.
An Bord Pleanála gave the green light to the plans last week.
It is believed that the works, which will see the terminal increase in size by about 7,500 sq mt, will cost in the region of e55 million.
A spokesperson for the St Margaret’s Concerned Residents’ Group, said they would be “closely following” what the upcoming works entail.
“We are concerned with the number of plans for the airport that have been approved,” spokesperson Sheelagh Morrice told Northside People.
“We find it hard to keep track of the number of planning applications in relation to the airport.
“We feel like the applications are being lodged in a very piecemeal fashion. It seems like there needs to be more strategic planning.”
It is expected that the project will be completed by the summer of 2009. However, it is likely that some of the extra facilities will be in operation by early next year.
The DAA also recently celebrated a High Court ruling in which Ryanair has been prevented from challenging further development at the airport.
According to the DAA, the development will now continue full steam ahead.

“The decision by the High Court is a very positive one for development for all the airport’s customers and stakeholders,” it was stated.
“The court’s decision to bind Ryanair to its agreement of 2005, not to oppose the further development of Dublin Airport, removes the threat of any further unnecessary delay or obstruction to the delivery of the airport’s new passenger terminal, T2.”
However, Ryanair has vowed not to use the new terminal for any of its services.
“Ryanair has already confirmed that its passengers will never use this gold plated T2 and we will continue to challenge attempts to raise passenger charges to pay for this Taj Mahal,” the company stated.
Construction of the new terminal got underway last October.
The development is expected to be open for passenger traffic in April 2010.
When complete, T2 will be a 75,000 sq mt building with a passenger capacity of 15 million per annum. It will cost e395 million.
The overall cost of the terminal, the new boarding gate facility and support infrastructure is e610 million.

Northside People

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