251. Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Transport whether he is aware that Fingal County Council issued a warning letter to DAA PLC in September 2022 in respect of the Runway 28R Standard Instrument Departure routes; that more than 180 weeks have now elapsed without Fingal issuing an enforcement notice or proceeding under section 160 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31825/26]

As the Deputy will be aware, it is essential that our regulatory framework is robust and proportionate in order to properly support the aviation sector and to ensure the highest professional standards, for a safe and secure aviation environment.

I can assure the Deputy that the Irish aviation sector is highly regulated, with a number of different regulators each of which has distinct, specific roles and regulatory powers to enable them to carry out their separate, statutory roles in an independent manner.

As a contracting state to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and a member state of the European Union, Ireland complies with ICAO standards and EU legislation regarding civil aviation. Under EU legislation, the operator of an airport is responsible for the design and maintenance of Instrument Flight Procedures (IFPs) which set flight paths into and out of an airport. The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), 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 (ANCA).

Separately, monitoring compliance with planning permission conditions is matter for the relevant Council that granted those permissions, and enforcement of planning conditions is a matter for the relevant planning authorities. It is important to note that flight paths are not a condition of planning at Dublin Airport.

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 Minister, to intervene on matters which are the responsibility of these independent authorities.