Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 83: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of foreign military planes and others which have landed in Baldonnel Aerodrome since January 2008; the purpose of each visit; and the number of foreign military personnel involved. [25927/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Responsibility for the approval of overflights and landings by foreign military aircraft lies with my colleague the Minister for Foreign Affairs. In relation to civil aircraft the responsibility lies with my colleague the Minister for Transport.

I am advised that 38 foreign military planes have landed at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel to date in 2008. The purposes of these visits involved transport of troops for onward deployment to the UN mandated EUFOR mission to TCHAD/RCA, inter-military liaison visits, navigation training, aircraft delivery flights, crew rest and refuelling stops, and VIP and official visits.

The presence of foreign military personnel on board the flights referred to above is usually limited to crew, who generally number between two to four per flight.

There have been two troop transfer missions to date in 2008, which involved the arrival of a total of 65 Dutch military personnel at Baldonnel for onward travel to TCHAD with the deployment of Irish troops to the region.

A further 16 civil aircraft, both Irish and foreign registered, have landed at Casement Aerodrome to date in 2008. The purposes of these visits involved pilot training, familiarisation visits by Irish Coast Guard rescue helicopters, and landings of charter aircraft for Irish troop rotations.