Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
149. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport if minimum welfare facilities, including public toilet facilities, are available for drivers collecting cargo from Dublin Airport; whether any complaints have been received regarding the adequacy of such facilities; and his plans to improve services for freight operators. [53108/26]
View answerMy Department of Transport has engaged extensively with daa, cargo handlers, and freight forwarders through meetings, site visits, and stakeholder engagement to gain a deeper understanding of issues affecting the efficiency cargo operations at Dublin Airport. My Department continues to engage with daa on longer-term cargo infrastructure requirements and has encouraged greater collaboration between the airport and cargo stakeholders to address current operational issues. Cargo operations are a standing agenda item for the National Aviation Facilitation Committee.
The daa submitted a planning application in December 2025 for a cargo project to the east of Dublin Airport as part of their Capital Investment Programme 2027-2031 which recognises the facilitation of cargo as a key strategic objective. The East Lands project contains cargo enabling infrastructure, including the safeguarding of new belly-hold cargo facilities with direct access to the South Apron. These sites will more than double the existing belly-hold cargo space, providing sufficient capacity to accommodate future growth.
As the Deputy will be aware, daa has statutory responsibility for the operation and management of Dublin Airport. The issue relating to toilet facilities is operational in nature so I have arranged to have the Deputy's question forwarded to daa for direct response.
If the Deputy has not received a reply within ten working days, I would be grateful if he would bring the matter to the attention of my Private Office.
