Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 9 Apr 2003

Vol. 565 No. 1

Written Answers. - Foreign Military Aircraft.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

128 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of foreign military aircraft which landed at Shannon Airport and flew over Irish airspace in each of the past six months; and the total cost to the taxpayer in each case. [7138/03]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

The numbers of foreign military aircraft which landed in Ireland during the past six months, primarily at Shannon, are provided as follows:

October 2002	41
November 2002	28
December 2002	30
January 2003	33
February 2003	16
March 2003	12

The numbers of foreign military aircraft which flew through Irish sovereign airspace during the past six months are as follows:

October 2002	246
November 2002	173
December 2002	196
January 2003	230
February 2003	219
March 2003	435

The Irish Aviation Authority provides air traffic control and communications services to aircraft which pass through Irish controlled airspace, en-route, and aircraft landing and taking off from Irish airports, terminal. The Irish Aviation Authority controls some 100,000 sq miles of international airspace in addition to domestic airspace.

Ireland exempts military flights from payment of the en-route and communications charges. Because of this arrangement the IAA costs in relation to military flights are met from the Department of Transport's vote.

In relation to the terminal charge for air traffic control services for military aircraft, this is a matter for the Irish Aviation Authority.

I am advised that the amount, not including VAT, paid to the IAA in the year 2002 in relation to all exempted flights other than flights under visual flight rules was €1,642,541. While it is not possible to provide an exact breakdown of this total between military and other exempt flights, it is estimated that the latter comprises a very small proportion of the total payment. It should be noted that the amount for 2002 includes the reimbursement of the en-route and communications charge to the IAA for all military flights in Irish controlled airspace as distinct from Irish sovereign airspace. No further breakdown of this figure is available to the Department of Transport. No payments have been made to the Irish Aviation Authority to date in 2003.

Question No. 129 answered with Question No. 90.

Question No. 130 answered with Question No. 52.

Question No. 131 answered with Question No. 96.