A GROUP of concerned residents in St Margaret's say they are 'shocked and annoyed' at newspaper reports that the decision on the second terminal and runway projects at Dublin Airport has already been made.

Media reports suggest that An Bord Pleanala's decision on both projects will be announced this week but the St Margaret's residents say neither they or their legal team have had any notification of a decision from An Bord Pleanala.
A spokesperson for the St Margaret s Concerned Residents Group said: 'We were shocked and annoyed to read of An Bord Pleanala's announcement to the media, overriding the appellants involved in the Oral Hearing for the proposed parallel runway and T2 projects at Dublin Airport.'

The group said that the consideration of both projects together by An Bord Pleanala gives weight to their claim that applying for separate planning permissions was 'project splitting'.

The residents complain that their village is in decline and has been the subject of neglect by the local authorities in recent years.

They feel that the continued and unchecked expansion of Dublin Airport threatens not only their homes and village, but their way of life.

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UPROAR vows to fight on if airport plans go ahead

An Bord Pleanala due to rule on airport expansion soon.

A PORTMARNOCK based group opposing the expansion of Dublin Airport is set to fight on should the planning authorities grant permission for the construction of a second terminal and new runway this week.

There is a growing feeling locally that An Bord Pleanala may rule in favour of the second terminal and runway projects but a spokesperson for UPROAR, Matthew Harley, told the Fingal Indcpcndent that 'getting planning permission does not mean that these projects will be built'.

Should the runway and terminal projects gain planning permission, it will then be down to the Government to decide whether the project goes ahead, according to Mr Harley.

'There is a blanket view that this is in the national interest and that overrides everything but it has not been shown to be in the public interest - that has to be proven; Mr Harley said.

Should the decision go against them the group intend to put pressure on the Green Party to maintain its pre-election position in being opposed to the T2 and the second parallel runway.

Mr Harley told the Fingal Independent: 'In theory, just because it gets planning permission, doesn't mean it will go ahead.

'There is a procedure and the Government has to sit down and agree whether it's a good idea to proceed or not.

'This is where the Greens come in and it's where they will have to live by what they say.'

Should political pressure fail, then UPROAR are prepared to take the legal route to stop the ongoing expansion of Dublin Airport, and in particular, the second parallel runway.

'We are considering the legal option but we have to consult with the people of Portmarnock first. It can be an expensive route and we will have to go looking for funds so we can't do it without consulting with the people of Portmarnock, Mr Harley said.

The pressure group is fighting the expansion of the airport on several fronts already with a complaint to the European Commission, the Competition Authority and the European Investment Bank.