DUBLIN Airport must face consequences if it exceeds the passenger cap of 32million this year, the Mayor of Fingal has claimed.
Daa CEO Kenny Jacobs this week forecast that passenger numbers will be closer to 33 million in 2024.
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He said that growth is “being stalled” by the “outdated” passenger cap.
The limit was put in place in 2007 as part of the planning permission granted for T2.
Daa has submitted a new application which, if approved, would enable it to grow numbers to 40 million a year.
However, Fingal County Council (FCC) has said they are waiting on more data from the Daa.
Breaches of planning law are generally a criminal offence, which can be prosecuted in the District Court, and in very serious cases, in the Circuit Court.
Labour Councillor and Mayor of Fingal, Brian McDonagh, last night hit out at the Daa admission that it would smash the cap.
He told the Irish Sun: “Their statement this week was extraordinary. They basically held their hands up and said ‘we are going to break the law’.
“They are blaming everyone but themselves.
“The law is there, it must be enforced and consequences applied. There is no option to do anything else.”
Acknowledging it will exceed the 32m cap, the Daa said efforts have been made to “encourage airlines to move seat capacity from Dublin to Cork”.
