asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if he will give details of the charges being made for the over-flights of foreign civilian and military aircraft.
Written Answers. - Over-Flight Charges.
82.
There are two forms of route charges levied on aviation availing of the facilities provided by the Air Navigation Services Office in my Department. These are:—
(1) En-Route Charges: these charges are levied on civil aircraft flying through Irish airspace and thus using Irish facilities. The charges are designed to recoup in full the cost of providing those services in the enroute phase of operations, i.e. not in the approach or takeoff phases of flight.
The charges are collected on this State's behalf by Eurocontrol, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation. Under the Eurocontrol system certain categories of flights are exempt from these charges. These include military aircraft, training and search and rescue flights. Receipts in respect of en-route charges in 1988 amounted to £19 million.
(2) The Shanwick Communications Charge: this charge is designed to recoup the cost of the telecommunications service provided to aircraft crossing the North Atlantic by Shanwick Aer Radio, Ballygirreen, County Clare. The current charge to aircraft, both civil and military, for services provided by Shanwick Aer Radio is IR£36 per contact.