The Irish taxpayer has covered a €10 million bill for air traffic control services supplied to US military aircraft travelling through airspace overseen by Ireland.
Aircraft passing through Irish-managed airspace are billed for en-route services delivered by AirNav Ireland (ANI), the commercial semi-state organisation financed through these charges, reports Breaking News.
However, the Irish Government has chosen to waive these fees for foreign military flights, with the exemption amounting to €10.1 million for the United States since early 2018.
Security services provided by the Irish Defence Forces for US military aircraft at Shannon Airport cost a further €965,471 during the four-year span from 2018 to 2022, reports Breaking News.
The information was released by the Departments of Defence and Transport earlier this week in reply to parliamentary queries from Sinn Féin TD Mairéad Farrell.
Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien noted that ANI applies charges for en-route services in Irish-controlled airspace through EUROCONTROL, the European intergovernmental body responsible for coordinating air traffic management, reports Breaking News.
However, Ireland is one of several nations that have chosen to exercise their discretion to waive such charges for foreign military aircraft.
“In relation to en-route charges, the policy and general practice at international level is to exempt foreign military flights from these charges. Ireland, in common with the vast majority of EUROCONTROL’s other 41 member states, subscribes to this practice,” explained Mr O’Brien,
“Between 2018 and September 2025, the cost to the state for en-route charges and North-Atlantic Communications charges for US military aircraft amounted to €10.1 million, including VAT,” reports Breaking News.
Terminal charges for US military aircraft landing at Irish airports added another €500,000, he said, reports Breaking News.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Simon Harris stated that the Defence Forces’ provision of security for US military operations at Shannon Airport is costing the taxpayer an average of €241,368 annually.
Figures for recent years were not available, but security expenses came to nearly €1 million during the four years from 2018 to 2022, according to the department, reports Breaking News.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.
