The operator of Dublin Airport has said if a decision on increasing the cap on passenger numbers is made quickly, it could prevent the number of flights in and out of the airport in 2024 and 2025 from being reduced.
Daa says if the cap is not changed, there could be implications for jobs and the economy, but local residents say the impact on the community also needs to be considered.
A cap of 32 million passengers a year was imposed on Dublin Airport when planning permission for Terminal 2 was granted more than 15 years ago.
But last week, daa warned it will have to reduce flights in and out of Dublin Airport in 2024 and 2025 to stay within the current cap and called for it to be scrapped.
This weekend the Taoiseach said the passenger cap does not make sense.
"I don't think it makes sense in terms of tourism, in terms of our economy, in terms of people to people contact around the world at a time when we are looking to create new routes to Ireland for us to impose a cap like that," Leo Varadkar said.
"Aviation is the main way that we get on and off this island for both trade and personal travel and capping that I think creates a difficulty."
Daa CEO Kenny Jacobs says it welcomes the Government support and said it will submit planning permission soon to increase passenger numbers.
But he said a decision will have to be made quickly by Fingal County Council and An Board Pleanála to prevent flight numbers being reduced over the next two years.
Mr Jacobs also warned that if the cap is not increased, there could be implications for jobs and the economy.
"If that happens in early 2024, by the middle of the year we don't have to worry, but if it takes years for that planning to be granted then we will be managing capacity at Dublin Airport," he said.
"Then there's a risk that there'll be a reduction in flights because airlines will move capacity off the island.
"That will damage connectivity to Ireland, it will damage the economy, it will stop new jobs being created and it will also hurt our sustainability ambitions."
Dublin Airport has already initiated talks with airlines about reducing ad hoc flights from next year.
Aer Lingus has said the situation is totally unacceptable and warned it could be forced to look elsewhere for growth. Ryanair said the cap would force vital connectivity away from Ireland.
Those who live close to Dublin Airport say the impact on the local community also needs to be considered.
Niamh Maher from St Margarets The Ward Residents Committee said while locals accept the airport must expand, she says the community is already having issues with noise from the new North Runway.
"Dublin Airport is a hub and its always going to need to increase capacity, because it is the national airport, but at same time planning conditions have been put in place for a reason and, in many ways, it’s to protect the health of the local community, the health and wellbeing of those who live in the area."
