Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 349: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will examine the possibility of using the military airfield at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, as a relief for civilian traffic at the heavily congested Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11865/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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From the point of view of civil aviation policy generally, Dublin Airport has considerable scope to expand to cater for growth in air traffic for many years to come, and accordingly Dublin does not need a second airport. The national spatial strategy has acknowledged that the expansion of the level of air services from Dublin Airport to a wider range of destinations is essential in the interests of underpinning Ireland's future international competitiveness.

Ownership of Baldonnel rests with my colleague, the Minister for Defence, and the scope and scale of operations at that aerodrome are matters for him and his Department in the first instance. As a general principle, the State would not inhibit any private concern which may wish to fund a facility for civil aviation at any location in the State, subject only to its meeting planning and aviation safety requirements.