Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, Dublin Airport Authority, DAA, holds statutory responsibility for the management, operation and development of Dublin Airport. Noise mitigation at Dublin Airport is subject to substantial regulation and oversight as well as best practice mitigation measures. Following the opening of the north runway in August last year, an issue regarding the runway's departure flight paths was identified that resulted, as the Deputy has stated, in some local communities being unexpectedly overflown. When this issue was identified, I understand that DAA advised local communities and elected representatives that it had commenced a review with the aim of resolving the issue. When the review was complete, the authority reverted to these stakeholders advising that the current standard instrument departures, SIDs, would be updated, resulting in flight paths aligning more closely with those previously consulted on and used as part of the planning process.

All flight paths at Dublin Airport are governed by international safety standards and, therefore, the revised SIDs required regulatory review and approval before being implemented. DAA, in conjunction with the IAA air navigation service provider, ANSP, submitted a revised departure process to the safety regulator for the required safety assessment, which was subsequently approved. The revised departure procedure then had to be submitted for promulgation to all aircraft manufacturers as required under International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, safety rules. This is so that the revised fight path can be input to aircraft instrument systems. The ICAO process requires a minimum of two months’ notice and provides for fixed dates as to when such information can be submitted. DAA has confirmed that the new flight path will be operational from 23 February 2023, and aircraft will operate the revised departure process from that date. In the interim, the continued use of the current departure process is necessary. However, DAA has committed to ensuring there are no departures off the north runway before 9 a.m. during this period. Finally, DAA has advised that the overall number of houses in the various noise contours will be similar to that previously communicated. However, detailed modelling is currently being completed, and DAA anticipates that a small number of additional houses may become eligible for mitigation measures as a result of the revised flight paths.

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