Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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1590. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the chemical make-up of firefighting foams used by airport fire services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35695/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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As mandated under EU Regulation 139/2014 and in line with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Airport Services Manual, Part 1 – Rescue and Fire fighting Services, certificated and licensed aerodrome operators in the State utilise fire fighting foams in accordance with the defined European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and ICAO performance levels. In accordance with the aerodrome licensing requirements under both European and national legislation, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) is responsible to ensure that aerodrome operators demonstrate that the fire fighting foams utilised are in accordance with the defined International performance levels.

It is a matter for the aerodrome operator to determine what foam type will be utilised to achieve the appropriate rescue and fire fighting response in accordance with the performance level and to manage any issues related to the chemical constituents of a particular foam type. I understand that the chemical constituents will vary dependent on the foam type. There are several types of foam concentrate from which effective fire fighting foams can be produced and these are as follows:

- Protein foam;

- Aqueous film forming foam;

- Fluroprotein foam;

- Film forming fluoroprotein foam; and

- Synthetic foam.

In order to be helpful, my Department has requested from Dublin, Shannon and Cork Airports the details of the foams types used and this information will be forwarded to the Deputy directly when it is received.