Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 713: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will review the Baldonnel exclusion zone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29695/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Section 36 of the Defence Act, 1954 provides the Minister of Defence with the authority to introduce protected area orders in respect of the vicinity of Casement Aerodrome or other military aerodrome. These zones were first introduced in 1955. Since the introduction of the Planning and Development Act the details of these restrictions have been incorporated into the various Development Plans for South Dublin County Council. The zones have been reviewed on a number of occasions and my Department is currently considering the most recent review. South Dublin County Council will be advised of the out come of this review in the context of the latest revision of the Development Plan.

The rationale behind the presence of the exclusion zone is one of flight safety and the safeguarding of members of the public in the vicinity of the Aerodrome. This is in line with international practice at all airports.