Vol. 538 No. 4
71 Mr. Power asked the Minister for Defence if he has proposals to hand over all operational functions of Garda air support unit to the Garda in view of the recent media reports of friction between the Air Corps and the Garda crew of the unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18242/01]
On 23 April 1996, the Government approved the establishment of a dedicated Garda air support unit as recommended in the report of the Inter-Departmental Group on Air Support for the Garda Síochána. The service provided through the Garda air support unit, which was inaugurated in September 1997, comprises Garda Síochána and Air Corps personnel and operates from Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel. The Garda Síochána is responsible for the operational control and policing functions, while the Air Corps personnel have responsibility for the flying and maintenance functions of the service.
Two aircraft are operated by the Air Corps on behalf of the Garda Síochána, that is, one AS355N Squirrel helicopter and one Defender 4000 fixed-wing aircraft. I have no proposals to alter the position in this regard.
