asked the Minister for Communications the position at Dublin Airport with regard to the main radio communications system, the reported breakdowns of radar and of the three navigational beacons.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Airport Navigational System.
18.
A recent intermittent fault on the main VHF radio communications system at Dublin Airport has been corrected. The stand-by and reserve radio systems were available at all times. A defective part in one of the radars will be replaced this week. The second radar has been continuously available for operational duty.
While one of the two non-directional beacons has been unavailable on a number of occasions, the second has been virtually continuously in service. The VHF omnidirectional Radio Range (VOR) and the Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) have been operationally available at almost 97 per cent of the time since 1 January last. None of the recent outages has caused any disruption to aircraft operations.
Is the Minister in a position to state to the House that there was no danger to aircraft approaching Dublin Airport. Is he in a position to deny implications in newspaper reports that there was a serious hazard to aeroplanes approaching Dublin Airport?
I want to make it absolutely clear that operations at all our airports are absolutely safe and would not be allowed otherwise. I want to tell the House that there is a very substantial ongoing investment — over the past couple of years, continuing this year into next year — providing new instruments, landing systems, new radar facilities and new voice communications and back-up systems. The quality of systems at our airports has never been better and by next year will be in top class condition.
I know that there is to be investment because I have seen the subhead in the Book of Estimates — I know there is substantial investment — but is the Minister stating that, as of now, it is less than perfect if, after considerable outlay, he says it will be perfect this time next year?
The message I want to convey is that the facilities available under the headings of instrument landing systems, radar, omnidirectional beacons and other communications at airports are more than necessary to meet safety requirements. They are being further improved, so much so that by the time the full investment programme has been completed next year, we will have communications systems etc. of which we can be very proud, indeed, and which certainly will be as good, if not better than, those obtaining in all other airports in Europe of a similar size.