Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 101: To ask the Minister for Defence the measures that are in place in the County Dublin development plan at the request of his Department or the Air Corps in regard to housing development in the lands surrounding Casement Aerodrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34157/07]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel is the only military aerodrome in the State. It provides facilities for military aircraft training and operations. The latter include Fishery Protection Patrols, Ministerial Air Transport, Garda Air Support, Air Ambulance Missions etc. Following a review of the Department's Safety Policy regarding Casement Aerodrome in 1999 a revised policy statement was forwarded to South Dublin County Council for incorporation into their Development Plan. This policy statement was based on the recommendations of the Consultants who conducted the review and took account of the security requirements for the military installations.

The South Dublin County Council Development Plan 2004-10 states that the "Council will use its development control powers to prevent the encroachment of development around the aerodrome which would interfere in its safe operation." It further states that the Department of Defence requires that no new buildings or developments be permitted on lands lying under the runway approach surfaces at Casement Aerodrome, for a distance of 1,350 metres outwards from the future thresholds of the runways.

The policy of the Department is that no developments are allowed in the Security area. In the Approach Areas to the runways only minor domestic extensions to existing dwellings are permitted. In the Inner Zone, i. e. within a circle of two kilometre radius from the Aerodrome, only developments of less than twenty metres above ground level are permitted.