I wish to raise the issue of what is happening at Dublin Airport. People right across the State have been told that there are no more car parking facilities there, that the car parks will be full in the coming days and that the situation is likely to be the same right through the holiday period, into the summer months. The Tánaiste will know about this from his time as Taoiseach. I understand that DAA had been in correspondence with the Minister for Transport and that, in a note to the Tánaiste on the issues with car parking, DAA put forward a number of proposals that were shot down by the Minister with responsibility for the environment and transport at the time. What the Minister called for at the time was a communications strategy from DAA to tell people to get public transport, to get a taxi or to get somebody to drop them off at the airport. The Tánaiste will know that for many people that is not really practical. I think in particular of people who may be vulnerable or elderly or have a disability. The issues with public transport to the airport are not joined up in any way across the State.

What is the Tánaiste's Government doing? Is the Minister meeting with DAA? Has the Government offered any solutions to this issue?

My understanding is that the Department of Transport is aware that Dublin Airport is facing significant car parking challenges on foot of the temporary closure of a privately owned long-stay car park, QuickPark, and that there is potential for that to have a very significant impact on passengers over the coming summer peak period. The numbers travelling overseas for holidays and various other activities are back to what they were prior to Covid, so there is a very buoyant situation in aviation again. It has been restored very quickly, perhaps not in line with projections from the industry. Originally, industry felt there would be a much longer bounce back in aviation, but it has been much more rapid, and that is clearly creating huge challenges. I will raise the issue the Deputy raised with the Minister.

The Tánaiste was told last May and the Government rejected both proposals.