asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if he is aware of the serious lack of motor vehicle/public car parking space at Dublin Airport arising from the nonaccess of the public to the existing multi-storey car park there for a number of years and the difficulties of providing effective security for cars in the existing car parks; and if he would, therefore, provide capital moneys to Aer Rianta for the construction of a multi-storey covered public car park at the airport.

I recently approved the provision of 500 additional spaces for public car parking at Dublin Airport. Aer Rianta Teoranta, who manage the airports, are proceeding with the work which is expected to be completed by early summer. It is expected that the new spaces, which add nearly 60 per cent to the parking capacity, will be adequate for traffic needs over the next few years.

Why has there not been public access in recent years to the multi-storey car park at the airport?

I am sure the Deputy is aware of the reasons.

In all honesty, I am not; that is why I asked.

For security reasons.

I understand that the additional 500 car park spaces are being provided at general ground level within the general complex. In view of the need for more effective utilisation of the limited land space available within the main complex of buildings in the area, should there not be provided a multi-storey public car park space, as is now available at all international airports, which would give much better security than the acres upon acres of cars parked in a situation in which many of them have been robbed of their contents, where they are subject to accidents and so on?

At present there are no plans for it.

Would the Minister consider asking the management of Aer Rianta to draw up a feasibility study for the erection of a multi-storey car park space in the airport? This should be possible.

That would commit me to a very large expenditure of money.

Can the Minister tell us whether the present multi-storey car park at Dublin Airport will ever be open again for use as such?

I would hope the time would come when it would be possible to do so.