asked the Minister for Communications the reason for the proposed investment of £30,000,000 in a new runway at Dublin airport; and if the completion and operation of this runway will hinder or adversely affect the operation of Ireland's only transatlantic airport at Shannon; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

20.

asked the Minister for Communications if he will give details of (a) the length of the proposed new runway for Dublin airport, as announced in the national plan, Building on Reality, 1985-87; and (b) the type of instrument landing system which will be provided at both ends of the proposed new runway.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 20 together.

I would refer the Deputies to my reply to a question on this subject on 12 December 1984.

Will the Minister please elaborate because in that reply he gave no reply.

All I can say at the moment is that details of the proposed runway at Dublin airport are being worked out. Deputies will be aware that a committee called the Airport Construction Committee has been in existence for many years. It comprises representatives of Aer Rianta, my Department and the Department of Finance. Details regarding the dimensions of the runway and its funding are being finalised and I will make an announcement on that as soon as I am in a position to do so.

Will the Minister not accept it is of vital importance for the survival of Dublin airport that the runway be at least 9,000 feet? Will he also accept that there is a great degree of urgency about this matter? Can he give some definite date when we may expect final details?

I appreciate there is urgency about this matter and that is why I was glad the Government were able to announce the decision in principle in the national plan last October. I am not in a position to give a date but I can tell the Deputy this matter is being treated with the urgency it deserves and I hope to make a statement on it at an early date.

The Minister referred to a written answer to my question on 12 December. Is he aware that out of 46 airports in Europe Dublin lies 42nd in length, just ahead of small places such as Luton and Bristol? Will the Minister give an undertaking to the House that he and his Department endorse the recommendation of the working party who carried out the study in 1981 and recommended that a 9,000 ft. runway be provided at Dublin airport? Does he not endorse that working party's recommendation in which members of his Department took part?

As I have said, I hope to be in a position to make a statement on this matter at an early date and I do not wish to say any more at this stage.

Would the Minister agree that in what seems to be a power struggle between Dublin and Shannon——

The question is about Dublin. We will stay with Dublin.

This arises from the question. Cork is being forgotten. Would the Minister take up immediately with Aer Rianta the question of the runway at Cork so that Cork can compete for the bigger plane market and especially for the European Airbus market?

That is a separate question. If the Deputy tables a question or comes to my office perhaps I can answer it more fully than I can here.

When the Minister was replying he did not answer the fundamental part of Deputy Prendergast's question, which was whether the completion and operation of this runway would hinder or affect adversely the operation of Ireland's only transatlantic airport at Shannon. What is the Minister's attitude to the airport at Shannon? Will these proposals for the new runway at Dublin airport affect Shannon adversely?

This is a great chestnut of the Deputy from Clare. I admire the diligence and enthusiasm with which he represents his constituency. I assure him again, as I have assured him many times, that the status or role of Shannon is not in question. It is the only gateway to the Atlantic from Ireland and it will remain so.

Deputy Prendergast in his question refers to £30 million. Can the Minister say how that figure was reached? Was it estimated on the basis of a 7,500 ft. runway or a 9,000 ft. runway? Can the Minister give any further information to the House about that?

It is not a precise estimate. It is felt that a figure of that magnitude would be needed for a runway. I am not sure what the cost differential would be between a 7,500 ft. runway and a 9,000 ft. runway. Either way it will be of that order.

It is going to be £3,000 a foot.