The competition watchdog has issued a preliminary assessment of the DAA’s proposed acquisition of the site of the former QuickPark car park on the Swords Road in Dublin.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) announced in August that it had decided to hold an in-depth investigation into the proposed deal, and has now sent an assessment to the parties involved.

The State-owned airports operator is seeking to buy the site from property developer Gerry Gannon.

Submissions

The CCPC said that its assessment set out its preliminary concerns about how the proposed acquisition could reduce competition in the provision of public car-parking spaces near Dublin Airport.

It stressed that the assessment was not a final determination. The parties now have the right to respond in writing, and can also request to make oral submissions and get access to the CCPC’s file.

“Based on the timelines as set out in the CCPC’s merger-review process, it is expected that the full investigation will conclude no later than March 2024,” the watchdog said.