Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 461: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of encroachments into airspace controlled by Casement Aerodrome in 2004 and 2005; the locations where the aircraft took off or landed; if any were defined as a near miss; the action which was taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17436/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by Air Corps Air Traffic Services that there were 16 encroachments in 2004 and 17 encroachments in 2005 into military airspace, i.e. those portions of airspace designated for use by the Defence Forces during periods when those areas had been notified to civil air traffic services as being active, without an air traffic control clearance.

The records held by the Air Corps do not note the location where the aircraft encroaching this airspace take off or land. The Air Corps Air Traffic Controller is only required to record the points at which the encroaching aircraft enters and exits military airspace.

The Air Corps reports all such infringements to the Irish Aviation Authority, the body responsible for the safety regulation of Irish airspace. None of the infringements reported in 2004 and 2005 were considered to be a near miss.