Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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190. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the capital works projects recently completed, ongoing and in the procurement stage at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49285/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The following are the current capital works projects completed and underway at Casement Aerdrome

Projects completed

• 2025 - Modular Accommodation, €1,998m
• 2024 - Main Technical Stores, €0.9m
• 2024 - Hangar 3 Automated Doors, €1,355m
• 2023 - Roof Lighting Hangar 3, €0.299m
• 2022 - Runway LED Lights, €047m
• 2022 - Watermains upgrade, €1,161m
• 2021 - Replacement of standby generators, €0.217m
• 2020 - Apprentice Hostel, €3.630m

• Military Medical Facility Building - €16,187m expected completion August 2026.

Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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191. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the progress being made to address staffing shortages in the air traffic control unit at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49286/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Recruitment and retention of Air Traffic Control personnel at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, is an ongoing challenge. This workforce is highly specialised and well-trained with skill sets that can be directly applied in the commercial aviation sector. The global shortage of air traffic controllers, together with the challenges of recruiting and retaining these personnel, is well documented. Given this high level of competition, Air Traffic personnel are not easily replaced.

However, significant progress has been made recently with the extension of the Pilot Service Commitment Scheme (SCS) to Air Traffic Service (ATS) personnel. This development will assist with retention of key personnel and stabilisation of the Air Traffic Service provided at Casement Aerodrome which requires a broad range of specialised personnel. The ATS SCS operates in the same way as the Pilot SCS and is a high value incentivising initiative for these specialised staff to remain in service.

As part of the sanction to extend the scheme to Air Traffic Control personnel, ongoing review will be undertaken of the Air Traffic Control Service model to ensure the longer term sustainability of the service.

Military management monitors and reviews staffing levels across all three services on an ongoing basis. My Department works closely with the Defence Forces in developing enablers to support both recruitment and retention. All initiatives are carefully assessed against operational requirements and broader public pay pay policy.

Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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192. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current operational capacity of Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel; the progress being made to restore full service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49287/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Following an operational decision taken by the military authorities earlier this year to restrict operational flight activity at Casement Aerodrome to a 5 day week (12 hours a day) service, I am advised that Air Traffic Control is now operational on a 7 day a week basis 12 hours per day (0800 – 2000).

In parallel with a number of HR initiatives I have approved since that decision, notably the introduction of a new Service Commitment scheme aimed at ATC personnel, my Department has entered into a contract with an external service provider to provide Flight Information Service Officer (FISO) services at the Aerodrome. The contract put in place, with the agreement of the military authorities, will assist them in restoring their capacity to return to full operational flight activities on a 24 hour 7 day a week basis.