The operator of Dublin Airport (daa) says it has “no current plans” to bring in a charge for drivers dropping or collecting passengers, despite having been given the go-ahead to do so by An Bord Pleanála.
Reports emerged on Wednesday that stated planning permission was granted to daa by Fingal County Council to develop new, tolled drop-off and pick-up zones at the airport’s two terminals.
However, in a statement to the Irish Mirror, daa stated: “Dublin Airport has no current plans to introduce drop-off or pick-up charges.”
READ MORE: Dublin Airport gets green light to toll drivers dropping off or collecting passengers
Fine Gael Senator Emer Currie said via Newstalk that the statement made by daa could be taken to mean anything.
She told the radio programme: “It could mean that they are holding it in their back pocket until a later stage or it could mean they’re going ahead introducing tolling infrastructure but not actually charging people.
“So it isn’t clear and I think people have been very clear about the fact they don’t want it and they want the daa to scrap it.”
She added: “I’m obviously disappointed that An Bord Pleanála has given the green light.
“I have to say I am a little bit confused about the messaging from daa yesterday, a tweet that just says they have no current plans to introduce it. I think they need to be clear with us about what they’re planning.”
Currie was not the only politician to raise issues with the plan, with independent councillor Joe Newman appealing to An Bord Pleanála, arguing that the proposed tolls would not be needed. The board rejected the appeal.
He suggested, via the Irish Mirror: “There is also no operational need for the tolling infrastructure as people have been using the drop-off zones appropriately for numerous years now."
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