I propose to take Question Nos. 265 and 266 together.
Under the Air Navigation and Transport (Amendment) Act 1998, as amended by the State Airports Act 2004, Dublin Airport Authority, formally Aer Rianta, is responsible for any proposals to compulsorily acquire land in accordance with sections 17 and 18 of the 1998 Act. The airport authority also has a statutory mandate to manage and develop the State airports while planning issues relating to proposed developments in the vicinity of the airports are a matter for the relevant planning authorities. Since the coming into force of the 1998 Act, my Department has not compulsorily acquired land at the State airports nor has it lodged objections or appeals in connection with planning applications at the airports.
As regards the period preceding the coming into force of the 1998 Act, I do not believe that I could justify the significant use of resources and expense required to examine relevant records, which date back as far as the 1930s. However, if the Deputy wishes to write to me in relation to any particular compulsory acquisition order at a State airport or in relation to an objection or appeal concerning a particular planning application, my Department will endeavour to assist with his inquiry in a helpful and practical manner.