asked the Minister for Defence if the proposed naval helicopters will be under the control of the Naval Service; and if he is satisfied that the necessary technical staff will be available to operate them.
Ceisteanna — Questions Oral Answers - Naval Helicopters.
21.
Crews for the helicopters which it is proposed to acquire for operation from the new design fishery surveillance vessels will be drawn from the Air Corps.
Control of the helicopter during operation from a ship will be subject to general operational procedures to be drawn up by the Air Corps and the Naval Service.
I am satisfied that the necessary technical staff will be available to operate these aircraft.
Is the Minister aware that the Air Corps are short more than 50 pilots at the moment? Will not the Minister accept that it is his policy and that of the Government to run down the Defence Forces because the money is not available?
I do not accept that.
Will the Minister accept that the Air Corps are short 55 pilots?
I do not accept the latter part of the Deputy's statement. I accept that more pilots are needed for the Air Corps. This is happening all the time because pilots tend to leave the Air Corps to join Aer Lingus and other airlines. Of course we must train more pilots.
How does the Minister propose to get additional pilots for increased duties when the Air Corps are short 55 pilots to meet their present requirements?
The Deputy can be assured that the pilots will be trained when the aircraft are available.
The Minister must be joking. It takes time to provide technical staff and the record of the Department in keeping that staff is not great. Will not the Minister accept that it takes two years to train a pilot? When will this training start and what steps are the Department taking to make sure that pilots will be available?
We have started already.
How can that be the case when the Air Corps are short 55 pilots?
The Deputy is talking about training pilots——
The Minister is bluffing.
No.
I am calling Question No. 22.