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busiest year in the airport’s history, up more than 5% on the year before. Passenger numbers there have grown by 46% in the last decade. The cap is set at 32 million, so last year the airport carried more than 4 million people above the limit that … submissions, held six public hearings, and made 16 recommendations. The Bill reflects that scrutiny. The Minister’s power is confined to the passenger cap alone, an order falls away once a planning decision replaces it and the assessments are built into the process rather than bolted on after

even higher than that. Several weeks ago the management of Shannon Airport called for the re-examination of aviation policy and requested the passenger cap in the regional airport programme be increased. Last year, for instance, over 2 million passengers used Shannon Airport, placing it outside the programme

increase year on year and a 46% increase since 2015. There were 215 days last year with more than 100,000 passengers. That equates to real, essential figures regarding tourism and employment opportunities. The 1.7 million transfers show us that Dublin can be and is a gateway … Head 5 should be amended to ensure that the Minister's power to revoke or amend planning conditions is limited solely to the passenger cap condition." As the Minister will be very aware from his former role as Minister for housing and local government, we need a wider

frequently and over longer distances than their European counterparts, with air travel per capita almost double the European average. For that reason, the passenger cap constrained our ability in this country to meet clear and growing demand and its removal is a welcome and necessary step. Dublin Airport

contacted by a constituent recently about Kilmore. We need to address the Stardust all-weather pitch. Money generated by the removal of the cap and a tourism tax could be used by Dublin City Council. From her previous role, the Minister will be very familiar with Gaelcholáiste Reachrann … sports facilities and investment in Dublin Bay but we need the money to do that. What is the update on Dublin Airport's passenger cap? Is there an update on the removal of it? Will the Minister give an update on the 2024 consultation on plug-in solar

were awarded to 15 operators. I now call for the awarding of 18 temporary licences, confined to ten passengers each, keeping the 180 passenger cap to ensure this season can be operated for the good of all concerned and on a one-season basis only. Full licences will … south Kerry and Iveragh is that we protect their livelihoods, protect our incomes, and protect their jobs by keeping Skellig Michael open to passenger landings for 2025 until a solution is found to the present impasse. This is the second time today that I have raised this hugely

importance of other regional airports. He said that airlines simply do not want to use the other airports and that is why the passenger cap needs to go. In that context, I reiterate the point I made in my initial contribution. This is legislation and the policy behind

evening as we burn up our climate targets, the other two being much more obvious, namely, the Bills on LNG and the passenger cap in Dublin Airport. However, this is also part of it. As regards the section we are dealing with here, the fundamental problem that some

event. The Minister referenced the programme for Government including "a clear commitment to work with stakeholders to achieve the objective of lifting the passenger cap". Will he outline, in terms of the residents, how that commitment will be achieved? He also told us that what he is presenting

this Bill. Dublin Airport is incredibly important strategic infrastructure for the island of Ireland. Sinn Féin does not oppose the lifting of the passenger cap in and of itself. We acknowledge the existing cap is no longer fit for purpose and we committed in our 2024 general election

constituents saved up, bought houses and are paying the property tax. What proportion of that directly affects them? Regarding the lifting of the passenger cap, the programme for Government clearly stated it should be as soon as possible, so that needs to be addressed. Regarding the 2024 plug

locked-in fossil fuel industry expansion that does not align with Ireland's binding climate obligations; — a similar provision in the Dublin Airport (Passenger Cap) Bill 2026 suggests that the Government is placing the interests of airlines ahead of the need for a healthy environment and climate action

imposed. The Government is also encouraging carbon-intensive projects. It is legislating for a State-owned LNG terminal. It is lifting the passenger cap in Dublin Airport, missing retrofitting targets and encouraging data centres, and it is boasting about that as well. The Government has utterly reversed

economy that would arise if Ireland was to experience an interruption to our gas supplies via subsea interconnection; — the proposed Dublin Airport (Passenger Cap) Bill 2026 will enable the sustainable development of Dublin Airport, with full regard to environmental constraints, legal obligations, and the independent regulatory role

could be defined as critical infrastructure and whether the State could define something. We have seen a worrying precedent in the Dublin Airport passenger cap and the LNG terminal. I am just concerned at this proposal to give the Executive power to disapply a public body duty under

centralisation. I do not agree with everything being centralised around Dublin or around Leinster. I do not agree with Dublin Airport's passenger cap being just lifted, for example. We should be decentralising. I do not agree with the lack of infrastructure and I do not agree with

support the lifting of the passenger cap for Dublin Airport. The expansion of that airport is critical, not just for jobs and growth, but for Ireland's standing as a global hub. It strengthens our economy and deepens the existing bonds we have fostered with international partners

issue. ANCA, in its role as a regulator of aircraft noise, ruled in January 2024 that the applications in relation to passenger caps require an assessment of the need for noise-related action. As a former councillor in Fingal County Council, I consistently questioned the breaches

west. It is not something I agree with, but we know that the Government is going to try to lift the passenger cap. It is a fact of life. We need to gain some additionality for regional airports. Will the Minister look at expanding the regional airports programme

support the airports in that regard. The Government is committed as well, in the programme for Government, to the lifting of the passenger cap at Dublin Airport. There has been a stay on that, as the Deputy knows, with the ECJ case. That stay is in place

have seen the chaos in Dublin Airport. This is not an anti-Dublin Airport statement at all. We welcome the lift on the passenger cap too, but the regional balance needs to be looked at. It is very unfair to have 86% of flights going

Minister to update us, please, on discussions in respect of the passenger cap at Dublin Airport. We are an island nation with an ever-growing population, expanding at a rate of 100,000 people per year. Our capital city's airport is a vital component for our national

going back to 2007 and 2008. It should have been dealt with before this. It is unsustainable that it remains in place. This cap will be lifted through this legislation in a sustainable and respectful way to adjacent communities. To complement that is the draft decision … only be looking at stifling its growth. Deputy O'Gorman seems to want that we go back to the 32 million cap. Some 34.6 million passengers went through the airport last year. If you cut those numbers you are cutting jobs, connectivity and routes. I do not think

giving the Minister. As a result, passengers should enjoy greater flexibility, and they will also benefit from fare capping, which has not been previously available to passengers in Cork. This initiative is future-proofing the multimodular public transport offerings planned for the city of Cork over the next

tourists, has been constrained by a planning condition that no longer reflects the reality we face in today's world. Passenger demand has already exceeded the cap for consecutive years, but this outdated restriction has been used to undermine our broader economic objective and limit our national potential

year-to-date 2025, disaggregated by matter, including mediation, board advisory services and litigation related to the thirty-two million annual passenger cap; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49428/25

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on the 32 million passenger cap at Dublin Airport; the measures he has taken to ensure planning conditions at State owned airports are complied with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24747/25

Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Transport the timeline for removing the passenger cap at Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9504/25

Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Transport if he has had discussions with an organisation (details supplied) regarding the Dublin Airport passenger cap; and to provide an update on any discussions he has had. [9707/25

Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the reason the relief caps under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme have not been index-linked; whether there are plans to introduce indexation to ensure the supports keep pace with rising vehicle and adaptation costs

comprehensive independent assessment of the environmental and climate implications of removing the cap as recommended by the Oireachtas Committee on Transport in section 2.1 (3) of the pre-legislative scrutiny report on the (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026 and as asserted as being lacking earlier this year

Éireann and TFI Local Link services, particularly in rural areas where passengers may be required to use more than one operator to complete a journey; and whether consideration has been given to introducing a daily fare cap or integrated day ticket for such journeys. [65886/26

376. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Transport the number of staff employed on 1 September 2025 at McDonagh train