Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 29 Sep 1999

Vol. 508 No. 1

Written Answers. - Regional Airports.

Deirdre Clune

Question:

217 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the number of overflights of Cork Airport which have taken place in each of the past five years; the action, if any, she will take to reduce this number; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17283/99]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke):

I understand that the Deputy is referring to the number of flights that were diverted from Cork Airport. Over the past five years the level of diversions by airlines is as shown in the following table.

Year	Total Diversions	% of planned arrivals
1998	65	0.7
1997	76	0.8
1996	60	0.6
1995	18	0.2
1994	20	0.3

Improved visibility aids were installed when Cork Airport was upgraded to category II operations in 1989. Since that date the diversion rate of planned arrivals has been consistently below 1 per cent. Prior to 1989, the diversion rate at Cork airport was up to 3.6 per cent.