Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages
Seanad Éireann — 2026-07-08
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Darragh O'Brien (FF), Dublin Fingal East

I thank the Senators who tabled the amendment and the Senators who have contributed to it. I do not accept the amendment, which suggests an independent assessment of DAA's voluntary purchase scheme and setting out specific standards. I will explain why. DAA has the statutory responsibility for the management, operation and development of Dublin Airport, including the implementation of the noise mitigation programme. The terms of this programme are set out in the planning conditions. Under those terms, eligibility for the noise insulation scheme, the voluntary dwelling purchase scheme and the school insulation scheme is subject to review every two years. The next review is due to commence in the coming months. There is a real opportunity to do it there. That review will use the 2025 operation and noise data, which will ensure the assessment takes place with-up-to date data that accurately reflects the noise environment experienced by local communities.
As Senator Clifford-Lee mentioned, it is also important to note that ANCA has published its draft decision on proposed noise mitigation measures associated with DAA's infrastructure application. That includes lifting the cap to 40 million passengers per annum. As the Senator said, that consultation is open until 3 September. It is really important that those residents interested in this or affected by it in whatever way engage with that process. I have said that I have engaged directly with the DAA on this already. I have written to it formally and will continue to do that. The appropriate next time to do that is once the ANCA decision is finalised and the public consultation is concluded, which will be on 3 September. Obviously, there will be a period required after that when the submissions to ANCA will be looked at. That is where the consultation is. That will happen over the coming months. There is a small number of residents negatively affected by the airport, be that from a voluntary purchase perspective or in the context of noise insulation. It looks to me that the ANCA draft decision will expand the noise insulation scheme to a wider area. We then need certainty on flight paths. There is a lot to do in this space. This Bill is not the place for the voluntary purchase scheme to sit because it is operated by Dublin Airport Authority. I know there were some who wondered if it would sit within this Bill. It was never appropriate for that to be there. However, I have the general power, should this Bill pass into an Act, to direct the airport on any matter that relates to this Bill. The work now ongoing through ANCA with its draft decision needs to conclude. There is an important opportunity for that to be done. I cannot accept the amendment.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-07-08/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:10+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-08