Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 3 Dec 2003

Vol. 576 No. 2

Written Answers. - Airport Development Projects.

Pat Breen

Question:

182 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Transport further to Question No. 346 of 18 November 2003, if he has obtained cost estimates for the necessary construction of waste water treatment facilities and dump remediation measures at Shannon Airport; if so, if he has informed the chairman designate and each of the other incoming members of the board of the new Shannon Airport Authority that such unanticipated debts will appear on the balance sheet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29368/03]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Brennan)

As I stated in my reply to the Deputy last week, the new independent airport authorities at Shannon and Cork will have a statutory commercial mandate similar to the mandate which Aer Rianta has at present. Any new debt arising from trading or for investment purposes, such as waste facilities referred to by the Deputy, will appear on the balance sheets of the new companies in accordance with normal accounting practices.

The cost estimates for the measures referred to by the Deputy are a day-to-day matter for Aer Rianta which, until the new Shannon Airport Authority is established on a statutory basis, remains responsible for the management and operation of Shannon Airport and I have no function in relation to the matter.

The new boards designate for the three State airports, including Shannon Airport, will work with the current Aer Rianta board and with my Department on relevant issues involved in bringing about the transition to independent and autonomous authorities for Dublin, Shannon and Cork.

Pat Breen

Question:

183 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Transport if the current red zones at Dublin Airport were formally established in 1968 by the then Department of Transport and Power; if not, the body by which and through which mechanism or means such red zones were formally established or designated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29369/03]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Brennan)

As I mentioned in previous replies to the House on 18 November 2003 and previously, the current red zones at Dublin Airport were formally established in 1968. The Department of Transport and Power was responsible for the establishment of the zones, which were approved and incorporated in the local authorities' development plans, and development within those red zones is controlled by the local authorities through the Planning Acts.

Pat Breen

Question:

184 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Transport, further to Question No. 340 of 18 November 2003, the respective heights of permitted building development relative to the respective runway threshold levels beneath such imaginary surfaces in the sky at distances of 500 metres, 1,000 metres, 2,000 metres and 3,000 metres from such thresholds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29370/03]

Pat Breen

Question:

185 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Transport, further to Question No. 341 of 18 November 2003, the way or manner in which the unrestricted use of land could interfere with the navigation of aircraft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29371/03]

Pat Breen

Question:

186 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Transport the respective sizes of the first section of the obstacle surface on the approach to each runway at Cork and Shannon Airports, with particular reference to the parameters of inner and outer widths, slope, divergence and length; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29372/03]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Brennan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 to 186, inclusive, together.

The technical questions raised by the Deputy are the responsibility of the Irish Aviation Authority and are not a matter in which my Department has a role.