Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 621: To ask the Minister for Defence if major noise emissions from aircraft over a location (details supplied) in Dublin 22 will be investigated; if he will report on procedures for pilots on the flight paths and altitudes at this location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34121/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Defence carried out a noise survey at this location in 2004 and the results of the survey indicated the noise in the area could not be considered excessive and, further, was caused primarily by road traffic. A copy of the report was made available to the legal representatives of the occupiers of the residence in question.

The residence in question does not lie directly under any designated flight path in or out of Casement Aerodrome. Altitudes flown are dictated by the need to approach and land on a runway and are in compliance with international standards. In order to minimise the impact of flying activities at this location, a directive was issued in 2004 by the chief of air staff operation to air traffic control not to route traffic, military or civil, over the residence in question, unless in a situation of aircraft urgency or distress or for security reasons.

Casement Aerodrome is the only secure military aerodrome in the State and as such facilitates military training and operational aircraft movements daily, including the operation of the ministerial air transport service, the Garda air support unit, fisheries protection patrols, air ambulance missions etc. In the provision of services as required from time to time by the Government, the military authorities are committed to ensuring the impact of their activities on the local population in the environs of Casement Aerodrome is kept to the minimum possible.