Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 465: To ask the Minister for Defence the area of land covered by the respective red areas, the approach areas and the security zones at Casement Aerodrome. [38936/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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As I explained in my reply to Questions Nos. 139 to 142, inclusive, on 15 June 2004, the red safety areas are essentially two-dimensional surfaces on the ground originating 60 m beyond the runway thresholds, have a width of 300 m and diverge at a rate of 15% at each side to a width of 700 m and have an overall length of 1,370 m in the case of each runway. The runway approach surfaces are three-dimensional areas which extend outwards from the same start point as the red safety areas and the bases of which rise above the ground at a rate of 1:50 for the first 3,000 m and then at a rate of 1:40 for 3,600 m to a maximum height of 150 m above the start point to a total distance of 15,000 m from the start point. A more detailed technical explanation of such areas is outlined by my colleague, the Minister for Transport, in his replies to Question No. 480 on 16 December 2003, Question No. 415 on 3 February 2004 and Question No. 438 on 17 February 2004. Each of the four red safety areas at Casement Aerodrome comprises 160 acres approximately, while the security zone comprises approximately 1,140 acres. The red safety areas and the security zone overlap each other by 180 acres approximately.