Fingal County Council is evaluating a planning application by the DAA to increase the passenger cap at Dublin Airport by 25pc, requesting more information on the potential impact of the proposed increase on climate change.
Critics of the proposal, including Green Party TD Joe O’Brien, have raised concerns about the risk of a significant rise in emissions due to additional passenger numbers at the airport.
The council has asked for 85 additional items of information from the DAA, focusing on matters such as revising the Environmental Impact Assessment Report, including details on greenhouse gas emissions, and providing clarity on the exclusion of emissions from additional flights and private jets in the assessment.
DAA CEO Kenny Jacobs claims that the emissions impact from the extra 8m passengers annually would be minimal, emphasizing the airport operator’s goal to reduce carbon emissions by 51pc by 2030 and achieve net-zero status by 2050, with plans to invest €400m in sustainability projects if the planning application is approved.
“DAA welcomes the opportunity to provide this additional information, which the team will now work to provide, ensuring the continued progress of our application, which would enable the vital expansion of Dublin Airport, through the planning system.”
