Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 12: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will outline his concerns regarding the proposed developments at Weston Airport, near Lucan, County Dublin; if he will elaborate on his fears concerning the safety risks for military aircraft flying into the Air Corps base at Baldonnel; if he has received any response to his letter to the Irish Aviation Authority regarding these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25927/05]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 13: To ask the Minister for Defence his views on the proposed developments at Weston airport, near Lucan, County Dublin; the implications for military aircraft flying into Baldonnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25794/05]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Defence the impact which Weston aerodrome's moving from visual to instrument control would have on available training time at Casement aerodrome; the consultation process which is followed in the event of such a change; the notification which occurs between his Department, the IAA and Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25956/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 13 and 48 together.

The Irish Aviation Authority, under the aegis of the Department of Transport, is responsible for the safety regulation of Irish airspace.

Weston aerodrome is licensed by the Irish Aviation Authority in accordance with the Aerodrome and Visual Ground Aids Order, and in issuing the licence, the authority's remit extends to aviation safety standards. In addition, the Irish Aviation Authority is a notice party under planning and development regulations, so that any development with the potential to endanger or interfere with the safety, or safe and efficient navigation of, aircraft is sent to the Irish Aviation Authority.

The local authorities are responsible for land use planning on, and in the vicinity of, Weston aerodrome in accordance with the Planning and Development Act of 2000. I understand that both South Dublin County Council and Kildare County Council are closely monitoring proceedings at Weston.

The issue of the current and future use and development of Weston aerodrome is of concern to my Department only in so far as it infringes upon Defence Forces responsibility for the control and management of military airspace, which is such airspace as is designated for Defence Forces use under section 68 of the Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993.

My principal concerns regarding the proposed development of Weston aerodrome focus on maintaining safe and functional airspace in which military flight training and air operations can continue on a 24-hour basis. The Air Corps continually conducts risk assessments to ensure the maximum safety for all airspace users, including liaison with Weston on safety issues.

My Department wrote to the Irish Aviation Authority earlier this year to express concerns about possible developments at Weston aerodrome. In response, the IAA advised that no airspace change proposal had been received from Weston at that time. An airspace change proposal has however recently been submitted to the IAA by Weston Airport Limited. Weston has also copied the proposal to my Department and this is under examination at present by the Air Corps.

Integral to the ongoing risk assessments carried out by the Air Corps, and cognisant of Weston's proposal to expand into instrument flight rules operations, will be an assessment on the potential impact this development will have on Air Corps flight operations and flying training programmes.

This issue, and many other aspects of this proposal concerning the interface between military air traffic, traffic from Weston and other civil users of the airspace, will be considered in due course during the consultation phase of discussions between the principal interested parties, that is, the IAA, Weston airport management and representatives of my Department and the Defence Forces.