Expanding Dublin Airport will only increase economic inequality between the capital and the rest of the country, the Green Party’s transport spokesman has claimed.

Currently, the number of passengers who can travel through the airport is capped at 32 million annually. 

The DAA has applied to Fingal County Council for permission to increase that cap to 40 million. 

If their proposal is approved, it will mean the construction of nine new gates and additional parking facilities.

Expansion has the support in principle of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar who has said there is a “real risk” that Ireland will otherwise lose out on investment. 

Other politicians have raised concern about the impact of expansion of Ireland’s other airports and Green Party transport spokesperson Brian Leddin thinks it will widen inequality. 

“I think it’s contrary to State policy,” Deputy Leddin said. 

“It would accelerate the growth of the Dublin region - that will be the effect of it. 

“So, I don’t think it makes sense to support it. 

“I think it makes sense to invest in infrastructure that supports the development of the regions to close the gap between the eastern region of this country and the likes of Waterford, Cork, Limerick and Galway.”

Transport links

Deputy Leddin said more people would use regional airports if there were better transport links. 

“If you take Shannon [Airport], for example, if you link Shannon to the national railway network and you had a train service that, let’s say, every half hour would get you to Galway or Limerick or Cork in quite a fast time,” he said. 

“Then, of course, Shannon would be quite an attractive airport for passengers and for airlines as well.” 

According to the International Air Transport Association, 143,000 people in Ireland are employed in jobs supported by the aviation sector.

Main image: Passengers wait to board a 'redeye' early morning flight at Dublin Airport in May 2010. Picture by: Peter Titmuss / Alamy Stock Photo