Vol. 440 No. 7
234 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the reason his Department consistently opposes development within the red safety areas of the runway approaches at the State airports while at the same time allowing the construction by Aer Rianta, of a new terminal building and industrial complex within Cork Airport, County Cork.
It is my Department's policy to ensure the safety of air navigation at and on the approach to the Airports. Experience has shown that the most likely area where a crash would occur would be on the take off or landing i.e. on the approach to the airport within the red safety areas. For this reason it is established policy, in conjunction with the local authorities, to keep the lands under the approach areas free of developments or obstructions.
In the case of Cork Airport the location for the proposed development of a business park does not lie within the red approach zones and the local authority has recently granted planning permission for this project which will comply with the normal safety and technical requirements for such developments. This worthwhile project will enhance the Cork area in general and generate considerable extra employment in the region. As regards a new Terminal Building at Cork Airport it should be noted that this project involved an extension to the existing building. Neither the original building nor the recent extension lie within the red safety zones.
