Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 351: To ask the Minister for Transport , further to Question No. 264 of 28 October 2004, relating to the airport development plan of March 1968 for Dublin Airport inclusive of developmental restrictions associated with both proposed runways and runway extensions, if a similar plan was prepared at or around the same time for Shannon Airport; if such plan outlined appropriate restrictions on runways 06/24, 13/31, 05/23 and 18/36 in addition to catering for extensions to runways 06/24 and 13/31; the details of such extensions; if such plan was conveyed by his Department to Clare County Council; if the council subsequently designated red zones in its county development plan based on the restrictions outlined in the departmental plan. [5031/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that in the late 1960s, in the context of drafting a county development plan, a scheme showing restrictions that were considered necessary for the purposes of air safety was forwarded to Clare County Council. I am advised by the Dublin Airport Authority, formerly Aer Rianta, that the scheme took account, inter alia, of possible future extensions of two runways at Shannon Airport, namely 06/24 and 14/32, subsequently redesignated 13/31. The subsequent incorporation of any or all of that information into the county development plan of the time was a matter for Clare County Council.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 352: To ask the Minister for Transport if a company (details supplied) submitted a hitherto undisclosed report relating to public safety zones at Dublin Airport to his Department in July 2001; if so, the reason such report was not made available subsequently as part of the public consultation process in relation to such public safety zones; and if, in relation to such secretion of public information, he has plans to rectify this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5032/05]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 353: To ask the Minister for Transport if a company (details supplied) submitted a hitherto undisclosed report relating to public safety zones at Cork and Shannon airports to his Department in April 2002; if so, the reason such report was not made available subsequently as part of the public consultation process in relation to such public safety zones; if in relation to such secretion of public information he has plans to rectify this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5033/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 352 and 353 together.

The Deputy seems to be referring to early drafts of ERM's report into public safety zones which were sent to the Departments of Transport and the Environment, Heritage and Local Government by ERM. The draft report on Dublin Airport, dating from 2001, and the draft reports on Cork and Shannon, dating from 2002, were amalgamated by ERM and formed the basis for its draft final report in June 2003 which was published on its website and opened for comments from all interested persons. In addition, ERM held an open day at each of Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports at which it presented the results of its work. The report was finalised by ERM in September 2003. Subsequently, the Government, at its meeting on 19 January 2005, approved the drawing up of guidelines by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government based on ERM's report to be issued to local authorities regarding public safety zones at the three State airports.

It should be noted that the issue of guidelines by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government will provide a further opportunity for public consultation. Also, when those guidelines are issued to the local authorities concerned, those local authorities will engage in further public consultation regarding any changes they propose to their development plans should they feel that changes may be necessary on foot of the guidelines issued to them. Accordingly, I am satisfied that there has been and will be ample opportunity for the public and any interested parties to give their views on this issue.