A European transport campaign group says the €350 million euro loan from the European Investment Bank to expand Dublin Airport is a waste of money.
Yesterday the bank announced Dublin Airport would recieve a €350 million loan to fund upgrades to baggage handling, longer runways, and more check-in desks.
The 20-year loan is the bank's largest ever investment in the transport sector in Ireland.
Brussels-based Transport and Environment says the bank's priorities are badly skewed, and it should concentrate on financing trams, trains and buses instead of motorways and airports.
Andrew Murphy from Transport and Environment says the government could have done much better with the same sum.
Meanwhile, the Green Party says the government should seek European Investment Bank funds for public transport, and not to expand Dublin Airport again.
Green Party Councillor Michael Pigeon says the European Investment Bank's investment policy is out of date -- and the government needs to get its priorities straight.
