Baldonnel plan for airport gets mixed reaction

Dublin politicians were last night at odds over the desirability of locating a second civilian airport at Baldonnel.

Mr Sean Ryan, a Labour TD for North Dublin, described the Minister for Defence's proposal that State lands at Baldonnel Military Aerodrome be used to develop a second civilian airport for Dublin as "bizarre". "It is nonsensical that the need to fund the restructuring of the Defence Forces seems to be driving transport policy," he said. The case for a second commercial airport has "yet to be convincingly made."

"As things stand, Dublin Airport would appear to have more than sufficient capacity to cater for the region's needs up to and including the 20 million passengers projected to use the airport per annum by 2005."

Mr Ryan said airport facilities in Dublin were "less than ideal" at present only because transport facilities to and from the airport are inadequate.

He called on the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, to make her position on the Baldonnel proposals clear.

Mr Niall Andrews, a Fianna Fail MEP, welcomed the proposals and said they "should be fully supported".

He said increased passenger numbers at Dublin Airport would "strain existing transport road networks in the north side of the city".

Mr Andrews said it was "very important that the private sector is given a strong role" in the development of the airport. Private-public partnerships were "the way of the future", he said.

Ms Therese Ridge, a Fine Gael senator, said the reaction to the proposed development of Baldonnel was "broadly welcomed" in the suburbs around the aerodrome. Ms Ridge, who lives in nearby Clondalkin, said there would have to be "pretty broad-ranging" consultation with local residents, particularly on the question of noise levels.

"There's an obvious public demand for a second airport and it's about time something was done about the dreadful delays at Dublin Airport. "However, there are difficulties to be surmounted and accommodations will have to be made to meet local needs. If there's one caveat, it's that roads in the area would have to be greatly upgraded to cater for the airport and a viable public transport service will be needed if we are to avoid extra traffic problems." Meanwhile, the Football Association of Ireland has said any development at Baldonnel will not affect its plans for a £65 million stadium at nearby Citywest.

An FAI spokesman rejected a Sunday newspaper report which suggested that the airport development would cause difficulties for the association when its planning application was submitted to South Dublin County Council.

The spokesman said it was "not in any way concerned" about the implications of the airport project for the development of the stadium.

"We are working with all of the relevant authorities to address all of the issues in relation to the planning application. The proposals for Baldonnel enhance our own proposition and don't make it any the less likely."

A spokesman for Aer Rianta said the semi-state body would not be objecting to the Baldonnel project.

He cast doubt on the commercial viability of a second major airport in Dublin and said Aer Rianta was "not afraid of competition".