Fine Gael TD for Dublin Fingal, Alan Farrell, recently met with Kevin Toland, CEO of the daa regarding the development of a second runway at Dublin Airport.
“I was pleased to meet with the CEO of the daa, Kevin Toland recently to discuss the plans for the development of a second runway at Dublin Airport which was granted planning permission in 2007. I used this opportunity to raise the views brought to me by members of the local community, and residents, particularly in Portmarnock and St. Margaret’s.
“I am glad that the daa is already fully engaging with local residents groups, and has committed to continuing to meet, and engage, with interested parties throughout the development of the project. It is of the utmost importance that community engagement is placed at the heart of this development, as it is only through this that the concerns of nearby residents can be addressed.
“The development of a second runway will be beneficial to the North County, and the wider Irish economy. Roughly 1,200 jobs will be created during the construction process, with site preparation works due to begin at the end of this year and the project being completed in 2020.
“It is projected that the new runway would result in a gain of 31,200 jobs by 2043, while also delivering an extra €2.2 billion in GDP. This would greatly benefit the local economy in Dublin Fingal, both in terms of the increasing level of jobs, and the resultant increase in expenditure in our local towns and villages. However, as this development proceeds, the concerns of local residents, and all of those who may be affected, must be given prominence in terms of the overall project.
“I look forward to further engaging with the daa as the project advances and I will do my utmost to ensure the concerns of my constituents are taken into account at each stage of the project, in line with the conditions attached to the planning permission.”