This article is from page 7 of the 2006-06-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 7 JPG
THE decision to give the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) permission for a new runway at Dublin Airport has been criticised in a submission by a member of Clare County Council to An Bord Pleanála.
Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) said the decision by Fingal County Council directly contradicted stated Government policy.
“We are approaching a first-quarter review of the National Spatial Strategy (NSS) that will show that there has been no delivery of the objectives requiring balanced regional development,” he said, in his submission.
“Currently, the Greater Dublin Area accounts for 48 per cent of national gross value added and more than 40 per cent of national employment. Shannon Airport could comfortably handle more than three times its current throughput.
“An Bord Pleanála are required to have regard to Government policy and must rule that capacity in Shannon be utilised to arrest the growing economic imbalance between the Dublin/Belfast region and the rest of the country.”
Cllr Meaney said that the biggest problem facing the development of population outside Dublin was transport infrastructure and the insufficient rollout of broadband.
“The correct approach would be to develop a high-speed rail rib from the east to Shannon Airport. This high-speed rail link would be an integral part of the Shannon Airport facility, with baggage check-in and other pre-flight requirements undertaken en route.
“I am aware that this is already being done in Germany with great success and there is no reason why this innovative concept cannot be applied here.
“The development of Shannon was built around new and innovative ideas with commitment at a political level.”
On the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) lodged with the scheme, Cllr Meaney criticised the lack of alternatives put forward by the DAA.
“Most significant is the argument used that expansion of Shannon ‘would require significant surface area access to infrastructure projects to be implemented (road/rail), in order to allow those who wish to travel to the Greater Dublin Area to reach their destinations’.
“This does not address the fact that Dublin Airport is currently deficient with regard to rail access to those travelling to the Greater Dublin Area,” he said.