Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 November 2025
211. Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Transport the responses from Dublin Airport Authority, AIRNAV and Irish Aviation Authority to the solutions for safer and lawful flight departure paths from the north runway at Dublin Airport, as proposed by the North Runway Technical Group in June 2025 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62587/25]
View answerI thank the Deputy for the question.
Following engagement with the daa on the matter of flightpaths at Dublin Airport , I have been advised that given the ongoing regulatory and planning processes in track regarding Dublin Airport, including matters under Judicial Review, it is not daa’s intention to embark on a flightpath review at this time.
Under EU legislation, the operator of an airport, daa in the case of Dublin Airport, is responsible for the design and maintenance of Instrument Flight Procedures (IFPs) which set flight paths into and out of an airport. While the Irish Aviation Authority, as the civil aviation safety regulator in Ireland, has responsibility for ensuring that IFPs adhere to safety standards set out in national, EU and international regulations.
Flight paths are also monitored for compliance with noise requirements by the Aircraft Noise Competent Authority, in line with EU Regulation 598/2014.
Separately, monitoring compliance with planning permission conditions is matter for the relevant planning authority that granted those permissions, and enforcement of planning conditions is a matter for those authorities.
Each of the aforementioned competent authorities has a range of powers of enforcement available where issues of non-compliance are identified. They are independent in the performance of their functions, and it is not open to me as the Minister, to intervene on matters which are the responsibility of these independent authorities.
