Vol. 535 No. 1
186 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defence the position on applications for flight training facilities at Gormanston airport in view of his Department's announcement that acres of the camp are now for sale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12248/01]
187 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defence the investigations which took place with interested parties or the consultation which took place within Departments before a decision to sell land at Gormanston camp took place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12249/01]
188 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defence if consideration to change the use of Gormanston airfield from military to military and commercial use was given before a decision was reached to sell off the property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12250/01]
189 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many people interested in aviation are concerned that lack of aviation facilities in proximity of the capital has been further reduced to the sale of Gormanston airfield; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12251/01]
190 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defence if he has had any representations from the Institute of Irish Flight Instructors, the Irish Aviation Council, the Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association before or after the announcement of the sale of Gormanston airfield, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12252/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 to 190, inclusive, together.
As I have already indicated in my reply to parliamentary Questions Nos. 105 and 108 on 10 April 2001, I have decided to dispose of some land at Gormanston camp, County Meath, to fund equipment purchases for the Defence Forces. The precise area to put on the market will be determined shortly. However, the military camp of 57 acres will not be disposed of.
Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, is the principal base of the Air Corps. With the withdrawal of the aircraft from Gormanston and the relocation of Air Corps headquarters to Baldonnel the Air Corps has the basis for better management of its resources.
Proposals to establish a flying training organisation at Gormanston were considered by a steering group representing the Department of Public Enterprise, Department of Defence and the Irish Aviation Authority. A draft report was submitted in late July 2000. The question of establishing facilities for civil aviation purposes is primarily a matter for the Minister for Public Enterprise.
I am in the process of arranging discussions with the relevant State agencies with a view to putting the property in question on the market at an early date.
I had representations from one aviation group and I will be communicating with it in the near future.
