Tom Brabazon (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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5. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the actions his Department is taking to ensure that Casement Aerodrome is fit for purpose in terms of infrastructure, capacity, and operational efficiency. [31286/25]

Tom Brabazon (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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Like other speakers this morning, I wish to raise the issue of the aerodrome at Baldonnel and the problems that have manifested in respect of air traffic controllers. We note that there have been problems with air traffic control on three occasions since 2010 and that a report was done internally in 2021. It does not appear to have been acted on in a meaningful way to date. I know the Minister made some announcements in this regard yesterday, but my concern is that support flights for An Garda Síochána and air ambulance services are being missed out on as a result of the service not operating fully as it should.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. He is right that there have been real challenges in terms of pinch points regarding specific positions our Air Corps is fundamentally reliant on and the air traffic controllers is the most obvious and current example. In fairness to my predecessors in this role, I point out that the context has changed significantly even since that 2021 report. We have seen an increase in commercial activity in terms of there being other opportunities for air traffic controllers in Ireland. We have also seen a growing shortage of air traffic controllers globally. Both of those things have added to what was already a challenge back in 2021.

We have, though, taken big and significant decisions this week. The Minister, Deputy Chambers, and I agreed to go ahead with the service commitment scheme for air traffic controllers, which is an extension of the scheme available to pilots in the Air Corps. It will be extended to air traffic controllers. As I pointed out in reply to an earlier question, it is unusual to do this outside of regular processes, for want of a better phase, but we are doing it as a recognition, as the Deputy rightly said, of the fundamental importance of these air traffic controllers not just to Baldonnel but to our country, to our security and, of course, to our Air Corps.

My Department is investing some €50 million in national defence infrastructure this year, with a further €12.5 million being provided to the Defence Forces on a fully delegated basis. In respect of Casement Aerodrome at Baldonnel specifically, the following projects, costing a total of €5.8 million, have been completed in recent years: new redeployable modular accommodation; an upgrade to hanger 3; main technical stores refurbishment; and a watermains upgrade. In addition to this, planning is under way for a new barracks service store, a new accommodation building, a new gym, a new crash rescue building, an upgrade to building 12; and a new ATC tower. I am looking forward to visiting Baldonnel because my Department has recently completed the development of an airside master development plan to further develop Casement Aerodrome.

Tom Brabazon (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome all the additional promised investment in the Air Corps. When the Garda Commissioner was before the justice committee earlier this week, he pointed out that one of the main methods for tackling the scrambler scourge in the city is through deploying the Garda helicopter, which principally operates out of Casement Aerodrome. In circumstances where it is only operational half of the week, his hands must be severely curtailed in that regard. We need to do whatever we can to get this problem resolved at the earliest opportunity.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I fully agree with the Deputy. My Department and the Defence Forces have been working in close collaboration with An Garda Síochána, the health service and the Air Corps to ensure contingency arrangements are in place while we resolve this pinch point.

I had a good meeting with the excellent new Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Rossa Mulcahy. I wish him well in his role. My management board in the Department of Defence and I had an excellent meeting with him and the leadership of the Air Corps. There is a list of things that needs to be done, as the Deputy said, arising from the 2021 report, and even beyond that. The big ask of Government was the service commitment scheme, which we implemented this week at Cabinet. We have taken the decision to provide the funding. That is now available. Air Corps management believes it will make a big difference.

There are also a number of other operational recommendations that fall to the leadership of the Defence Forces. They now need to get on with them. This has to be a collaborative effort to put all of the pieces in place to build a sustainable service. I reassure those who watch these debates that there are contingency plans in place, including ones to support An Garda Síochána in its excellent work.

Tom Brabazon (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome that last contribution and I look forward to seeing the fruits of that work.