Vol. 508 No. 1
231 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if a decision has been made to provide a civilian airport at Baldonnel; and, if so, the studies undertaken to determine the direction of the flight path to the airport, the noise impact of aircraft on residents living on the flight path and ensure that noise levels fall within those limits accepted internationally as appropriate to residential areas. [17704/99]
236 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the Government's views on whether a civil airport should be developed in Baldonnel; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18074/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 and 236 together.
The future development of the military aerodrome at Baldonnel is primarily a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Defence, in the first instance. Both the Minister for Defence and I have received several proposals in relation to limited development of civil aviation at Baldonnel. Any use of Baldonnel for civil aviation purposes is a matter which falls to be considered by me, in consultation with the Minister for Defence, in the context of overall airports policy. In that regard, advisers have been appointed jointly by the Minister for Finance and me to assist in the examination of Aer Rianta's report on its future strategic direction. The advisers' report, which will be completed in the near future, will assist me to assess the position of Baldonnel against that wider policy backdrop and to discuss these matters with the Minister for Defence and my other Cabinet colleagues.
