Purchaser must be found for idle Dublin Airport carpark immediately, says councillor

A Fine Gael Councillor has said the currently idle carpark at Dublin Airport could be in operation in just a fortnight if a suitable purchaser or lessee is found.

Councillor Tom O’Leary, Chair of the Transport and Infrastructure Committee at Fingal County Council, was speaking after Dublin Airport confirmed it will not be appealing the CCPC consumer and protection authority’s decision to block its purchase of the former QuickPark facility in Santry.

“This 42 acres facility currently holds 6122 car parking spaces at Dublin Airport and it’s lying idle,” Councillor O’Leary said.

“On this Easter Bank holiday weekend, Dublin Airport has once again had to warn passengers that if they want a parking space today or tomorrow, they are out of luck.

“We saw what happened last year when passengers parked in nearby housing estates, impeding access to the residentshomes in the Swords and Santry area.

“This simply cannot be repeated.”

Cllr O’Leary also said he was calling on everyone invlovled to get the car park up and running “without delay”.

“As early in the week as Wednesday, Dublin Airport had to warn passengers intending to travel this weekend that they would need to make alternative travel arrangements to and from our main national airport,” he said.

“This situation is dire and has been ongoing for far too long.

“We’ve waited over a year for this decision and today find ourselves back at square one.

“We need to move forward urgently.

“I am calling on everyone involved and NAMA in particular, to get this critical parking infrastructure put back out for sale via tender, to find another independent buyer who can get this car park up and running without delay.

“There are alternatives too. Fingal Co Council made an offer to open the car park via a short term lease, pending the completion of a sale process.

“This option must be considered now to get the car park open in time for the summer high season.

“This vital resource can be opened in two weeks if a suitable buyer or lessee can be found.

“All parties need to work together collectively to make this happen, so we avoid further parking chaos this Summer.”