Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 431: To ask the Minister for Defence the position on issues raised by his Department in regard to Weston Aerodrome, Lucan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40133/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, 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 Limited to the Irish Aviation Authority in August 2005. The proposal was also copied to my Department and is under examination by the Air Corps. It is anticipated that following the completion of this examination, the Department of Defence and the Air Corps 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 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 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.

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 432: To ask the Minister for Defence the measures in place to ensure the regular monitoring of noise in residential areas from the operation of Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, given that there is no statutory body responsible for monitoring noise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40134/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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While the Air Corps conducts noise measurements around the perimeter of Casement Aerodrome, in the ramp area and in buildings around the ramp area on a continual basis, no monitoring of noise in residential areas in the environs of the aerodrome is undertaken.