An Bord Pleanála has granted permission to Aer Rianta to build a new passenger aircraft pier for 'low-cost' carriers at Dublin Airport, despite objections from Ryanair.
However the impact of the decision is unclear, because the Government is considering establishing a second terminal at Dublin Airport which would be run independently of Aer Rianta.
The completion of the passenger terminal extension at Dublin Airport opened up the possibility of having a throughput of 20 million passengers a year.
However, all sides recognise that this is not going to be enough - plans are already underway for developing a second runway, which would further increase capacity.
Today, Aer Rianta was given the go ahead (by An Bord Pleanála at least) to further extend facilities with a new two-storey pier which would have 12 passenger aircraft parking stands.
The board said the project was given the go-ahead because of projected growth in air traffic and the need to provide adequate facilities, and the expansion was in line with the National Spatial Strategy.
There were seven conditions tied into the permission which included specifications on car parking, water supply and design.
Aer Rianta has welcomed An Bord Pleanála's decision and says it hopes to have the facility - known as Pier D - operational by the end of 2004.
A formal decision will not be made, however, until a meeting at the end of this month.
But RTÉ News understands the Minister for Transport has written to the Chairman of Aer Rianta to request it 'does not take any irrevocable steps' on the Pier D project.
This is because the Government is considering establishing an independent second terminal at Dublin Airport, outside the control of Aer Rianta.
Even though the Aer Rianta extension was specifically for 'low cost' or no frills airlines, Ryanair objected against the proposal and is one of 13 companies to express an interest in constructing the independent terminal.
All sides agree that additional facilities are required at Dublin Airport, but it is not known whether Aer Rianta's plans for Pier D to provide 64,000 square feet of additional space will be allowed to take off.
