Sir, - I believe the development of Baldonnel as a second commercial airport for Dublin would be a sensible move for the following reasons:
The volume of traffic at Dublin Airport was over 11.4 million passengers in 1998. This means that Dublin Airport will have experienced double-digit growth in each of the past five years. According to a report on the review of transport investment needs in Ireland carried out by DKM economic consultants on behalf of the Irish Government, it is difficult to envisage growth levels remaining at current trends.
But even at a 7 per cent growth rate from 1999 onwards, it is estimated that passenger volumes at Dublin Airport will reach 20 million a year by 2006/2007.
The creation of another airport in Dublin should be viewed from the perspective of the overall transport needs in the whole of Dublin city and county. The increased traffic passenger numbers into Dublin Airport will strain existing transport road networks in the north of the city. In fact, the building of a rail link to Dublin Airport either via an extension of the Luas line from Finglas or by linking the airport to the Dublin-Belfast rail line must be considered as a matter of urgency.
The building of another commercial airport at Baldonnel will also bring more investment in the west of Dublin city.
It must be stressed that a commercial airport at Baldonnel could not be given the go-ahead unless the rigours of all planning laws have been met. This, of course, will include the need to carry out a full Environmental Impact Assessment in accordance with EU legislative requirements.
In conclusion, while the Irish Government is going to consider the merits or otherwise of a second commercial airport at Dublin city, it is very important that the private sector is given a strong role in this matter. Private-public partnerships are the way of the future and innovative proposals in this regard should be included in any new policies put forward on this issue. -Yours, etc., Niall Andrews MEP,
European Parliament Offices, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2.