Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has satisfied himself that sufficient consultancy takes place with local authorities when an application for changes to the licensing arrangements of airports, aerodromes or airfields are concerned in view of the fact that only the IAA, Department of Transport and Department of Defence are consulted at this point; if he has satisfied himself that this procedure is sufficient; the role he sees local authorities as having with regard to regulating the development of ground-based facilities which must be established in order to facilitate the non-ground based movements of aviation vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36683/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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It is the responsibility for the Irish Aviation Authority to licence airports and aerodromes, having regard primarily to aviation safety. Provision for licensing is made in a statutory instrument under the Irish Aviation Act 1993, which comes within the remit of the Minister for Transport.

With regard to ground-based facilities, the position is, as stated in reply to Question 429 of 16 November 2005, that any consequential land-use developments arising from a change in designation of an airport or aerodrome or any increase in activity would have to be dealt with by the relevant planning authority in accordance with the planning code.

Under section 11(3) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, a planning authority may take whatever measures it considers necessary to consult with, inter alia, transport infrastructure providers when it is reviewing its development plan to ascertain any long-term plans for the provision of infrastructure and services in the area of the authority and the provider must supply the necessary information to the authority. This provision allows for the long-term land-use planning of the authority to reflect proposed developments in transport infrastructure and services.