asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport the plans he has to improve air traffic control facilities at Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
2.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Air Traffic Control.
1.
asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if he has satisfied himself that there are no undue delays to passengers at Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
7.
asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if his attention has been drawn to the statement issued by the Irish Airline Pilots' Association on 17 May 1989 in which it was claimed that the present radar system at Dublin Airport is grossly inadequate and calling for the introduction of secondary surveillance radar; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1, 2 and 7 together.
Dublin, like other European airports, is experiencing a phenomenal growth in traffic. The increased traffic is most welcome even though, as throughout Europe, it strains the present capacity of the ATC system.
Though we will be making every effort to minimise delays, because of the traffic volumes and lack of system capacity, delays may occur. Major investment in manpower and equipment is required to extend the capacity of ATC, not just in Ireland but throughout Europe.
My Department are well advanced on major investments in equipment, facilities and staff. These include a £30 million programme for new communications, radar, instrument landing systems and other navigational aids, as well as £34 million for a new runway and State services complex at Dublin Airport. As the House is aware, I recently authorised an increase of more than 10 per cent in air traffic control staffing through the provision of 27 additional staff. Last week I placed a contract for the replacement of the radar systems at State airports which will provide modern state of the art equipment at Dublin, Shannon and Cork. The total value of this contract is £13.2 million and it will be fully installed in 1990-91 but at Dublin by the end of this year.
As far as Dublin is concerned one of the most modern, custom built, air traffic control centres in Europe will, I hope, be operational by the end of this year. The new centre will have a full range of completely modern facilities such as communications systems, primary and secondary surveillance radar. Pending the move to the new centre, a temporary secondary surveillance radar facility will be available to controllers in the existing centre within the next fortnight.
I am satisfied that, so far as Ireland is concerned, we are making the necessary investment in the infrastructure that is required by present and projected air traffic levels.
Is the Minister satisfied that the traffic control facilities at Dublin Airport are adequate in terms of dealing with the volume of traffic going in and out and that there are no potential safety hazards arising out of the way the system is operated at present? In relation to the expenditure he announced for various improvements, can he give us some idea when the programme will be completed and when the improved facilities will be operational?
I replied to the latter part of the Deputy's supplementary in my reply.
I arrived late, I am sorry.
I can understand that. I assure the Deputy that there is no danger in regard to safety as a result of the facilities provided at Dublin Airport. It is important to stress that the Airline Pilots' Association and the air traffic controllers agree that there is no problem in regard to safety. The £30 million programme is already under way, the approval for the 10 per cent increase in staff has already been given and we expect that the new recruits will start within the next couple of weeks. I also indicated in the course of my reply that pending the move to the new centre a temporary secondary surveillance radar facility will be available within two weeks at Dublin Airport.
Will the Minister agree that, notwithstanding the fact that no safety factor is involved, there is a delay factor? Will he agree that an air traffic control representative indicated recently that despite the promised air traffic control facilities, there will be an inordinate delay in having it implemented and that it will be well into the nineties before any improvement can be expected at Dublin Airport?
As the secondary surveillance radar will be operating within two weeks from now, no sane person could claim it was an inordinate delay. The major installation will be in place in Dublin Airport in 1989 and not even the wildest propagandist could claim — as it is the state of the art equipment which is being installed — that it was an inordinate delay. I do not know the source of that statement but it was an inaccurate account of the position.
The statement was widely publicised in the newspapers and I am surprised that the Minister is not aware of it. Notwithstanding the commitment he has given here, he has failed to persuade the Irish Airline Pilots' Association and the air traffic controllers of the improvement at Dublin Airport. They are expecting a long hot summer with inordinate delays for passengers using Dublin Airport.
A statement was made by the Irish Airline Pilots' Association but, unfortunately, it was prepared at the time the two pilots were killed in the United States and it was postponed for a week. In the meantime I had signed the contract for equipment costing £13.2 million to be installed at Dublin Airport. One event crossed the other. The Deputy can be assured that (a) we are right on the ball as far as the provision of the equipment is concerned, (b) that there is no problem in regard to safety and (c) that the equipment to be installed is of the very highest quality. There is no better equipment available in the world market.
Will the Minister indicate the present state of relations with the air traffic controllers and the Irish Airline Pilots' Association with regard to their future on the issue? In view of what was indicated by the Minister, can he assure us that there will not be industrial actions leading to delays for passengers to and from Dublin Airport and elsewhere? Will the Minister reconcile — for me and many members of the public who will be looking to air traffic as a means of transport in the coming months — or explain how he, his Department and the Irish Airline Pilots' Association are in agreement that the system is — to quote his Department and the association — inadequate, in some respect grossly inadequate? How can we be sure that there is no element of lack of safety involved?
The Deputy has made his point.
As the Deputy is observant, I am sure he has noticed that my approach is non-confrontational. Any problems that exist in the industrial relations field will be subjected to the most careful analysis and negotiation. That is the road down which we intend to travel in the Department. I am convinced that the people involved are committed to the same philosophy and, that being so, I cannot say that I see any grave dangers. The fact of the matter is that over the last few years there has been a huge increase in travellers by air in all European countries. I am fully aware of the problems because I am current president of EUROCONTROL. Delays have occurred at airports in Ireland that sourced elsewhere. In particular, the flow control in Heathrow has caused delays and, consequently, has caused us problems but it is important to stress that the problems did not originate here. Likewise, Frankfurt is very much under pressure. There is a network of very busy airlines and, consequently, a network of problems but we are confident that as far as Dublin, Cork and Shannon are concerned, we are equipping ourselves fully to deal with such problems.
Will the Minister indicate if the vacancies in the air traffic control section are to be filled in view of the recent redundancies and the shortage of manpower? Will the Minister give us an indication of his thinking in regard to the filling of those vacancies?
As I indicated in my reply, I obtained approval for a 10 per cent increase in the number of air traffic controllers. We are very hopeful that when fully trained they will make a substantial contribution to the service.
May I put a supplementary question to the Minister?
I am moving on to Question No. 3.
On a point of order——
Question No. 3.
On a point of order——
The Deputy is showing disdain for the Chair. I have called the next question and there can be no point of order about my ruling on that matter.
I am in order, with the greatest of respect. I wish to make a very brief point. My Question No. 7 was taken in conjunction with Question No. 2.
I am aware of that. I am calling the next question.
I am trying to draw the attention of the Chair to the fact that I was allowed put just one supplementary question and I consider that grossly unfair.