Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 594: To ask the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 465 of 13 December 2005, if the permissible heights of proposed developments beneath the runway approach surfaces increase with distance from runway thresholds; if he will confirm, for example, that development up to a height of 20 metres is permissible beneath the 1:50 approach at a distance of 1,000 metres from the threshold and that similarly development up to a height of 60 metres is permissible at a distance of 3,000 metres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5132/07]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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It is the policy and objective of the Department of Defence to ensure the safety of air traffic, present and future, en route to and from Casement Aerodrome. The current safety policy, a copy of which was forwarded to South Dublin County Council in 2000, reflects best international practice in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organisation standards and recommendations and provides for military training in the area. The achievement of this policy and objective necessitates, inter alia, restrictions on building developments in the environs of the Aerodrome.

As I indicated in my reply to Questions Nos. 139, 140, 141 and 142 on 15 June, 2004, red safety areas are essentially two-dimensional surfaces on the ground originating 60 metres beyond the runway thresholds, have a width of 300 metres and diverge at a rate of 15% at each side to a width of 700 metres and have an overall length of 1370 metres long in the case of each runway. The Department's policy approach is that no new developments should be allowed within red safety areas. However, extensions to existing domestic dwellings are acceptable in certain circumstances. The runway approach surfaces are three dimensional areas which extend outwards from the same start point as the red safety areas. Their bases rise above the ground at a rate of 1:50 for the first 3,000 metres and then at a rate of 1:40 for 3,600 metres to a maximum height of 150 metres above the start point to a total distance of 15,000 metres from the start point. The Department's policy approach is that height restrictions are applicable to all developments under the runway approach surfaces beyond the red safety areas by reference to the datum level of the Aerodrome which is fixed at 86.6 metres Ordnance Datum.

Responsibility for planning and development in the vicinity of Casement Aerodrome rests with the Planning Department of South Dublin County Council. The practice down the years has been for the Local Planning Authority to consult the Department of Defence in respect of planning applications for proposed developments which may affect Casement Aerodrome. Such consultations have taken place and continue to take place on a regular basis.