Donal Carey
Ceist:111 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the organisation which has overall responsibility for public safety in the vicinity of the State airports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6984/02]
Written Answers. - State Airports.
Donal Carey
Ceist:112 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the position regarding the matter of the study relating to public safety zones in the vicinity of Dublin Airport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6985/02]
Donal Carey
Ceist:113 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the reason safeguarding maps have not been prepared for the State airports by the Irish Aviation Authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6986/02]
Donal Carey
Ceist:114 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the respective sizes of the red safety areas for existing runways 10/28, 16/34 and 11/29 at Dublin Airport with particular reference to the parameters of inner and outer widths together with overall lengths; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6987/02]
Donal Carey
Ceist:115 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the reason for the rationale for S.I. No. 14 of 2002; the former standards which have been revoked; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6988/02]
Donal Carey
Ceist:116 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she proposes to make copies of Annexes 4 and 14 of the Chicago Convention available to landowners affected by S.I. No. 14 of 2002; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6989/02]
I propose to answer Question Nos. 111 to 116, inclusive, together.
The answer to Question No. 111 was contained in a written answer on 30 January 2002 – Dáil Question No. 208 – as follows:
The Irish Aviation Authority was established with effect from 1 January 1994 pursuant to the Irish Aviation Authority Act, 1993 to exercise powers and functions in relation to safety of air navigation services and regulation of safety at airports in the State. When consulted about proposed developments in the so-called red zones, the IAA advises the planning authorities of any conflict with international aviation safety requirements, and also draws their attention to increased public safety risks in those areas. The Air Navigation and Transport (Amendment) Act, 1998, requires Aer Rianta to take all proper measures for safety, security, management, control, regulation, operation, marketing and development of its airports. In discharge of that statutory duty, it is a matter for Aer Rianta to decide what representations, if any, it should make to the relevant planning authorities in respect of proposed developments within or in proximity to the State airports. The planning authorities have the normal statutory responsibility to regulate development in their area. In doing this, they take account of a wide variety of concerns, including public safety. The red zones at airports were developed in the 1960s to indicate to the local authorities the areas in which development may need to be restricted, in the interests of aviation safety specifically, and public safety generally. The red zones have traditionally had two functions, namely, the aviation safety function of avoiding developments which potentially, because of their height, may interfere with safe take-off and landing of aircraft, but also avoiding developments which, because of their location, would add to public safety risks to people on the ground. This Department, in conjunction with the Department of the Environment and Local Government, has commissioned consultants to make recommendations for public safety zones in the vicinity of Dublin Airport. The recommendations of the consultants, ERM, will specifically deal with the risk to people on the ground. The work, when completed, will clarify that the primary agency in relation to aviation safety assessments will continue to be the Irish Aviation Authority, whereas the primary agency in assessing public safety risks will be the relevant planning authority itself. In any event, the planning authorities in accordance with their own statutory obligations, and ultimately, An Bord Pleanála, will continue to decide whether specific developments in the vicinity of airports receive planning permission. When the study is completed, the Department of the Environment and Local Government will issue planning guidelines in accordance with the Planning Acts to the local authorities to assist them in their consideration of the public safety aspects of planning applications in the vicinity of airports.
While it had been hoped to have all work in relation to the study finalised by now, unfortunately the tragic events of 11 September meant that resources had to be diverted to deal with other very urgent matters. However, my Department is now reactivating the study with a view to concluding the work as quickly as possible.
The IAA is not responsible for producing or publishing safeguarding maps for licensed aerodromes including the State airports. This is a responsibility for the owners or operators of such licensed aerodromes. The red safety areas for existing runways at Dublin Airport are similar in shape to those of the International Civil Aviation Organisation Annex 14 approach surface projected on to the ground. The respective sizes of the red safety areas for these runways are as follows:
|
Runway |
Inner Edge in Metres |
Divergence% |
Length in Metres |
Final Width in Metres |
|
10R/28L |
300 |
15 |
3048 |
1214.4 |
|
16/34 |
300 |
15 |
1829 |
848.7 |
|
11/29 |
150 |
10 |
1829 |
515.8 |
S.I. No. 14 of 2002 was made by the IAA in exercise of the powers conferred on that body under the Irish Aviation Authority Act, 1993. In accordance with the Act, the IAA does not require ministerial approval prior to making these orders. I am informed by the IAA that this order defines obstacles to aircraft in flight for the purpose of airspace protection in the State at, adjacent to and in the vicinity of aerodromes and elsewhere and specifies reporting and information requirements. These are new definitions and do not revoke or amend previous ones.
In relation to Annex 4 and 14 of the Chicago Convention, the IAA will inform any interested parties where they may be purchased. In addition, the authority will be publishing relevant material on the IAA website at www.iaa.ie