Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 19 Oct 1999

Vol. 509 No. 4

Written Answers. - Defence Forces Equipment.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

45 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Defence the fixed wing aircraft operationally available to the Air Corps; the plans, if any, there are to provide modern aircraft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20448/99]

Michael Creed

Question:

48 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Defence the number of aircraft in the Air Corps which are over 20 years old; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20557/99]

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

141 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence the number of aircraft over 20 years old in the Air Corps. [20528/99]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 45, 48 and 141 together.

The Air Corps fleet comprises 18 fixed wing aircraft and 14 helicopters, including one fixed wing aircraft and one helicopter operated by the Air Corps on behalf of the Garda Síochána. The number and types of the fixed wing element of the fleet are as follows: two CASA CN-235, one Gulfstream IV, one Beech Super Kingair, seven Siai-Marchetti SF 260W, six Cessna and one Defender 4000 (Garda). The helicopter element consists of the following: seven Alouette III, two Gazelle, four Dauphin 365F and one Ecureil AS355N (Garda).

The aircraft which are more than 20 years old comprise all of the Siai-Marchetti, five Cessna, one Gazelle and all of the Alouette III. The remaining aircraft were purchased within the last 20 years: one Cessna, 1981; one Gazelle Helicopter, 1981; one Beech Super Kingair, 1980; four Dauphin 365F Helicopters, 1984/1985; one Gulfstream IV, 1992; two CASA CN 235, 1994; and one Defender and one Ecureil (Garda), 1997.

All of the aircraft mentioned are operational and undergo regular maintenance and scheduled overhauls to ensure that they are fully airworthy and meet the certification standards laid down for the aviation industry. In the circumstances it is not proposed to withdraw them from service at present.

The longer term development of the Air Corps, including the question of future aircraft requirements, will be dealt with in the context of the White Paper on Defence, which I plan to have available by the end of this year.

In the meantime, I asked the Chief of Staff to prepare, in conjunction with the General Officer Commanding the Air Corps, a draft implementation plan for my consideration, to implement the effectiveness and efficiency recommendations made by the consultants PricewaterhouseCoopers in their review of the Air Corps. The draft plan from the Air Corps was received very recently and will be considered as quickly as possible.

Gerry Reynolds

Question:

46 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Defence if the 60mm mortar is still in service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20493/99]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

A court of inquiry was initiated immediately following an accident which occurred at Kilworth Firing Range on 9 December 1997 in which five Defence Forces personnel were injured, one seriously. The inquiry encompassed the findings of a military police investigation and a technical board of inquiry. Weapons handling training on the 60mm mortar continued but live firing for training purposes ceased pending completion of the aforementioned investigations. The report submitted to higher military authority gave rise to additional queries which could only be addressed by the reconvening of the court of inquiry and this was done. The report of the reconvened court of inquiry is currently being reviewed by the military authorities in order determine what, if any, changes to drills and procedures should be made in respect of live firing with the 60mm mortar on training exercises. Until this review is completed the military authorities have continued the suspension of live firing with the 60mm mortar.

Dinny McGinley

Question:

49 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Defence the position of the tendering process for armoured personnel carriers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20574/99]

Michael Ferris

Question:

73 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the provision of new armoured personnel carriers for the Defence Forces; when the vehicles will come on stream; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20442/99]

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

148 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence the state of the tendering process for armoured personnel carriers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20544/99]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 49, 73 and 148 together.

I was pleased to announce recently that I had authorised the opening of negotiations between my Department and Mowag of Switzerland in regard to the completion of a contract for the supply of armoured personnel carriers to the Defence Forces. This followed the completion of the technical assessment of two vehicles selected by the Department to compete in the second stage of the competition which had been in progress since last year. Those negotiations are continuing with the purpose of defining the final technical specification to meet the Department's requirements and to establish the financial and other aspects of the proposed contract.

Subject to the successful completion of these negotiations, I expect that a contract will be concluded shortly and that the first vehicles will be delivered to the Defence Forces towards the end of next year. The possibility of accelerating pro duction to achieve full delivery of the remainder of the vehicles as early as possible will be explored in negotiations with the supplier.