asked the Minister for Transport the purpose and origin of the Eurocontrol organisation; and the extent of Ireland's financial commitment to it.
Written Answers. - Eurocontrol Organisation.
276.
The increasing volume and speed of air traffic in the late 1950s led to a programme of co-operation between Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and the UK which culminated in these countries signing the International Convention relating to Co-operation for the Safety of Air Navigation, commonly know as the Eurocontrol Convention. The convention, valid for 20 years, entered into force on 28 February 1963 and Ireland acceded to it on 1 January 1965. A Protocol modifying the terms of the convention and extending its validity for a further 20 years from 1983 has been signed recently.
The aims of Eurocontrol are expressed in Article 1 of the Convention in the following terms:
The Contracting Parties agree to strengthen their co-operation in matters of air navigation and in particular to provide for the common organisation of the air traffic services in the upper airspace.
In Ireland's case, the upper airspace is that airspace above a height of 24,500 feet. The Permanent Commission of Eurocontrol, at which Ireland is represented by the Minister for Transport, supervises the work of the agency. It formulates policy on matters relating to air traffic control including measures designed to ensure the safety of air navigation and the orderly and rapid flow of air traffic.
Ireland contributes to the investment and operations budgets of Eurocontrol and also to a special budget for Ireland. There are similar special budgets for other states. Expenditure on the investment budget relates to the provision of new facilities, control centres, radar stations etc. while that on the operating budget relates to the cost of personnel, maintenance and operation of the central services of Eurocontrol installations. Expenditure under the special budget relates to work carried out exclusively for Ireland. The contributions paid by Ireland to these budgets in 1980 were as follows:
|
IR£ |
|
|
Investment Budget |
84,782 |
|
Operating Budget |
200,959 |
|
Special Budget |
314,473 |
|
Total |
600,214 |