asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if the Government have received a proposal for the construction of a short take off and landing airport in the East Wall area of Dublin 3; if his Department have undertaken any assessment of the viability and safety implications of such an airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I am aware that the question of providing a short take off and landing airport in the Dublin Port area has been under consideration by private interests but no formal proposal has been put to me in the matter. If such a proposal is received, the suitability of the proposed site for licensing as an airport will be considered by my Department.

Will the Minister indicate what kind of criteria he will be applying to any such proposal? Will he be taking into account the proximity of the Dublin Port and Docks Board petrochemical storage facility which is quite close to the proposed site?

All factors, environmental, security, safety and otherwise, will be taken into account.

While the Minister has said there has been no formal proposal to his Department, has he had any informal discussions with the private interests concerned? Has he formed any view on the proposal at this time?

To answer the latter part of the supplementary first, I have formed no view. I have met just one person who discussed the matter with me in my office and the position is as stated in the reply to the question. It was not a principal in the proposal.