Councillors approve renewal of Dublin Airport Local Area Plan
At last night’s monthly meeting of Fingal County Council, councillors unanimously agreed to extend the Dublin Airport Local Area Plan to 2030.
The Local Area Plan is part of a robust policy framework that is in place at national, regional and local level to support the continued growth of Dublin Airport. The Local Area Plan provides a detailed framework to facilitate the capacity enhancements and operational improvements required for Dublin Airport as well as outlining the community, environmental and supporting infrastructure and surface access measures necessary to support the Airport’s growth.
The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Brian McDonagh, said: “The support shown by councillors to extend the Dublin Airport Local Area Plan shows that Fingal County Council recognises the local, regional and national importance of the Airport. However, any development at Dublin Airport must be done within the context of a sustainable growth framework. The Local Area Plan recognises that a careful balance is required between national economic and environmental objectives and the interests of stakeholders and airport related communities.”
The Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly said: “Within the Dublin Airport Local Area Plan and the Fingal Development Plan there is a clear recognition of the need to expand the airport’s capacity to 40million passengers per annum and the necessary framework to achieve this has been established since 2020.”
The Planning Authority is currently dealing with two planning applications from the daa to raise the passenger capacity at Dublin Airport.
The 40million application (F23A/0781), which was submitted on December 20, 2023, is stalled because daa has not yet responded to a request for information from the Aircraft Noise Competent Authority (ANCA) which was made a year ago on March 1, 2024. Until that essential information is received, and the ANCA noise assessment subsequently completed, the Planning Authority is unable to issue a decision on the 40million application.
The 36million application (F25A/0094E), which was submitted on February 6, 2025, is currently being assessed by the Planning Authority in accordance with relevant national and regional planning guidance as well as the Fingal Development Plan and the Dublin Airport Local Area Plan. The daa chose not to engage in pre-planning with the Planning Authority prior to the lodging of this application.
On March 5, 2025, ANCA wrote to the Planning Authority giving notice that it is of the opinion that the development contains a proposal requiring an assessment for the need for a noise-related action.
The 2019 Act which established the Aircraft Noise Competent Authority requires the Planning Authority to refer planning applications at Dublin Airport to ANCA for an assessment of the potential impact of aircraft noise. Noise impact is a key factor in airport expansion plans. The requirement for a noise assessment typically arises when applying to increase capacity.
Of the 61 planning applications referred to ANCA since it was formed in 2019, only three were deemed to require a noise assessment. One of those applications, in 2019, was subsequently withdrawn by daa which resulted in the noise assessment being discontinued. The other two are the applications currently with the Planning Authority to increase capacity at Dublin Airport to 40million and 36million.
Another application had a mandatory noise assessment under the legislation as it was for a Relevant Action under Section 34(C) of the Planning Act. This relates to the night-time use of the runway system at Dublin Airport and the Planning Authority’s decision was appealed to An Bord Pleanála who have not yet issued a final decision.