asked the Minister for Defence if he will make lands available at Oranmore, County Galway to facilitate the development of a new airport as proposed by Galway Chamber of Commerce.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Oranmore (Galway) Airport.
13.
My Department received an approach from the Galway county development officer in September last regarding this matter. It is being examined.
Is the Minister favourably disposed towards facilitating Galway in this matter?
It would be imprudent of me to indicate my personal views on this matter pending a full examination and a report to me from within my Department. I met a deputation from Galway Chamber of Commerce some weeks ago, as the Deputy probably is aware, and had a full discussion with them. As I indicated in my original reply, the matter is under examination at the moment and I would have to reserve my position until the results of that examination are available to me.
Could the Minister state what the request has been from the county development officer?
The request is to make available to the airport committee certain Army lands at Oranmore including the ranges.
When is it likely that consideration of the matter in the Minister's Department will be concluded and when will a decision be made on the request?
It is difficult to say when the examination will be concluded but it should be fairly soon.
Could the Minister say what needs to be examined in such great detail? Where is the complexity in the issue that requires such a lengthy period of consideration?
The Deputy should be aware that the military side would have to report on the utility of the range to them for their purposes and the consequences of being deprived of it. The civil side lands branch of the Department will also have to be involved with regard to——
Grazing?
No, with regard to the possible replacement of it if a decision was made to proceed with it. The consequences of that must be examined to see whether there is an alternative site. This takes some time. Even though we might want to approach this with sympathy, we must look at it from the point of view that the primary obligation is to the needs of the Defence Forces.
Is the Minister aware that the £1 million grant announced by the Taoiseach for the development of an airport at Galway has not yet been expended and cannot be expended until suitable grounds are made available upon which such an airport could be built? In view of the fact that this announcement was made since last year's budget would the Minister not agree that there is an urgency about this matter, that an early decision would facilitate the development of a very necessary facility for the Galway area and that the further delay in this matter is hindering industrial growth in that area?
I would like to see an early decision on this matter but, for fear the Deputy's supplementary question gives the impression that the failure to spend this money is somehow due to the Department of Defence, I should like to correct that impression. The grant was announced on the basis that there was another airport complex available in Galway on which it would be spent and which would be suitable for development. Subsequently, it turned out that that was not the case. That, of course, did not have anything to do with the Department of Defence. When the first intentions, and the first plans, fell to the ground the promoters in Galway then looked to the Department of Defence property.