asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that great hardship is imposed on the local authorities, the working classes and the local farmers by the maintenance of the open space of two and a half miles radius around Dublin Airport, some of this area being within three miles of the centre of the city; and, if so, whether he will consider modifying the relevant regulations with a view to making some of this area available for house-building.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Space around Dublin Airport.
It is obvious that it would not be in the public interest to have unrestricted building development in close proximity to Dublin Airport. It would be unsatisfactory to allow building of a nature or extent that would create undue hazards for aircraft landing and taking off from the airport in bad weather.
Arrangements were, accordingly, made by my Department with the local authority concerned some years ago that any applications received by the town planning officer for permission to build in any place within two and a half miles of Collinstown would be referred to the Department for observations from the aeronautical point of view.
Any proposals that are made for the erection of buildings within the two and a half miles radius are considered as sympathetically as possible, having due regard to the aeronautical considerations involved; much depends on the nature of the building proposed, its height and its precise location in relation to the runways of the airport.
I am satisfied that the existing arrangements are in the public interest and do not give rise to any great hardship.