Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Defence the discussions which have taken place between his Department, the Irish Aviation Authority and the management of Weston Aerodrome since an application was made by the latter to the former for a change in their airspace licence; the impact such a change in airspace licence he will have on operations at Casement Aerodrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38244/05]

Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Aviation Authority, under the aegis of the Department of Transport, is responsible for the safety regulation of Irish airspace. An airspace change proposal was submitted by Weston Airport Ltd. to the Irish Aviation Authority in August 2005. The proposal was also copied to the Department of Defence and is currently under examination by the Air Corps. It is anticipated that following the completion of this examination that the Department of Defence will raise any issues arising in the group which has been convened by the Irish Aviation Authority in regard to the airspace change proposal.

The issue of current and future use and development of Weston Aerodrome is of concern to the Department of Defence 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. The principal concerns of the Minister for Defence regarding proposed changes at Weston Aerodrome focus on maintaining safe and functional airspace in which military flight training and air operations can continue on a 24-hour basis.