John V. Farrelly
Question:18 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Defence the progress, if any, which has been made in implementing the special gratuity package offered to the Air Corps. [23078/97]
Written Answers. - Air Corps Pilots.
Monica Barnes
Question:36 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for Defence the current position in relation to the implementation of the proposed new incentive scheme for Air Corps pilots announced by his Department on 1 August 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18164/97]
Olivia Mitchell
Question:38 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Defence the steps, if any, he will take to ensure that the Air Corps have enough personnel to staff Marine Rescue Services in this country. [23085/97]
Eamon Gilmore
Question:72 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Defence the reason the Air Corps are not in a position to supply all of the pilots required for the Department of Marine Sikorski helicopter which will be based at Dublin airport; the steps, if any, he is taking to deal with the shortage of pilots in the Air Corps; if he will consult with the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers regarding an incentive scheme to encourage pilots to remain within the Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23089/97]
Frances Fitzgerald
Question:93 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence the plans, if any, he has in relation to the special gratuity for the Air Corps; and whether the Air Corps will pilot the new East Coast Search and Rescue Service. [23265/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 36, 38, 72 and 93 together.
A service commitment scheme targeted at certain categories of Air Corps pilots was announced by my Department on 1 August 1997 in response to the increasing number of Air Corps pilots seeking to retire to take up employment in the civil sector. The closing date for the receipt of applications from officers invited to participate in the scheme was 11 December 1997. The applications under the scheme are now being processed and a total of 11 pilots have indicated that they wish to participate in the scheme. I hope that the introduction of this scheme will help to alleviate the problems which have arisen with regard to the turnover of Air Corps pilots in recent years. However, it must be borne in mind that the solution of the problem of pilots leaving the Air Corps does not lie within the system. As long as the large demand for pilots in the civilian aviation industry continues there will be pilots wishing to retire on pension from the Air Corps. This problem is not unique to the Irish Air Corps but exists in many other air forces throughout the world who are faced with the same problem.
A sub-committee of the Conciliation and Arbitration Council has been established and will review the position regarding Air Corps pilots. It will also review the available options with regard to staffing levels of pilots in the Air Corps, balanced with an equitable policy in regard to personnel who wish to retire, having regard to the operational demands of the corps.
With regard to the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources rescue helicopter service to be based at Dublin Airport, the position is that because of the number of pilots who have retired or who intend retiring from the Air Corps in 1998, it is not now possible to assign Air Corps pilots for training for this service in the timeframe originally envisaged.