If planning restrictions on Dublin airport's €320m North Runway are not removed, the Irish economy will lose out on a positive economic impact of €262m in 2024.
That is according to a new report by consultants, InterVISTAS, that forms part of a large tranche of new information lodged by daa with An Bord Pleanála as part of daa’s bid to have the two planning restrictions attached to the 2007 planning permission for the runway removed.
The planning conditions specify that the runway will not be used at night between 11pm and 7am and that night-time operations at the airport not exceed 65 flights on average when the airport runway is complete.
The North Runway opened on August 24th of last year and Fingal Co Council granted planning permission to have the restrictions lifted two weeks earlier but they remain in place pending a decision by An Bord Pleanála in the case after 14 separate third party appeals were lodged against the council decision.
In the report by InterVISTAS which is an updated report on an Economic Impact report first drawn up in 2021 by the consultants, it also states that the economy will lose out on an additional 3,130 jobs in 2024 as a result of the restrictions not being lifted.
A separate report prepared by Mott McDonald Global Aviation contains daa figures showing that if passenger traffic was to grow unconstrained and no 32 million passenger cap was in place, passenger numbers would reach 39.6m by the end of 2030 and increase to 46.6m by the end of 2040.
The planning application was first lodged by daa three years ago in December 2020.
In a letter to An Bord Pleanála the CEO of daa, Kenny Jacobs, has urged the appeals board to make a decision as soon as possible.
"Maximising the potential of this important piece of strategic infrastructure is now essential," he said.
"Ease of air travel, cost competitiveness, and trade facilitation are vitally important drivers of the Irish economy, and the importance of high-quality international connectivity is recognised at the highest levels of national planning and aviation policy."
"A grant of permission for the proposed Relevant Action would ensure these important objectives can be delivered."
"We appreciate the complex and technical nature of the information provided in this response will take time to assess. However, we respectfully ask that a decision is made as soon as practically possible."
"This would allow us to address uncertainty around the ability of Dublin Airport to support the goals outlined in national policy and give confidence to our airlines partners and other regulatory agencies."
Mr Jacobs stated with the new information lodged with the appeals board "we are confident the response provides a robust assessment to address An Bord Pleanála's queries and to progress its review".
The appeals board is accepting third party submissions on the new information until December 14th. The appeals board has no date for a decision but it is likely sometime in 2024.
