Pat Rabbitte
Question:55 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Defence the progress made to date with regard to plans to acquire new training aircraft for the Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20498/02]
Other Questions. - Air Corps Equipment.
Tenders were received in August 2002 for the supply of eight turbo-prop training aircraft to replace the Marchetti aircraft in the pilot training role. These tenders are being evaluated and the Minister hopes to place a contract before the end of the year.
There is a need for aircraft for pilots to be deployed because if they do not have them they will leave the Air Corps.
It is quite a substantial investment as well. The total cost is expected to be in the range of €45 million to €60 million. A number of tenders were received and the Minister is looking forward to signing the contract by the end of the year.
I seek clarification on whether the extra planes for the Air Corps are for defensive purposes. Will they be armed?
The aircraft will be used for pilot training and they will have a light armament capability so they can be used for security or defence operations if necessary.
Billy Timmins
Question:56 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Defence if the Air Corps maintains any of the Garda helicopters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20447/02]
Pat Rabbitte
Question:57 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Defence the services it is intended that the Air Corps should provide for the new Garda EC 135 helicopter; if he has satisfied himself that all possible co-operation has been forthcoming from the Air Corps and his Department in regard to bringing the helicopter into service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20499/02]
Liz McManus
Question:65 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the provision of night flying training for Air Corps pilots servicing the Garda air support unit; the discussions he has had with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20518/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 56, 57 and 65 together.
The Garda air support unit, GASU, currently comprises one twin-engined AS355N Squirrel helicopter and one Defender 4000 fixed-wing aircraft. The Garda Síochána is responsible for the operational control and policing functions of the service, while the Air Corps personnel have responsibility for all matters relating to the flying and maintenance of the aircraft.
With the introduction of the EC 135, the Air Corps will assume responsibility for the flying of this aircraft, while the maintenance will be contracted out. The original plan had been to contract out both flying and maintenance. However, for technical, operational and legal reasons this did not prove possible. The Air Corps will continue to be responsible for all matters relating to the flying and maintenance of the existing aircraft.
The Air Corps, which is responsible for registration of aircraft on the State military register, is currently finalising arrangements to accept the EC 135 on to that register. It is expected that this acceptance procedure will soon be completed and that the aircraft will be delivered to the Air Corps later this month. Following an initial work-up period, the aircraft will then become operational. While the introduction of the new aircraft has taken some time, due to lead times for the manufacture of the aircraft and the extensive fitting out of the aircraft with highly sophisticated equipment, both the Department of Defence and the Air Corps have co-operated fully in this process.
The question of night flying capacity has been the subject of ongoing communication between the Departments of Defence and Justice, Equality and Law Reform. It should be noted that there are no restrictions on the Garda helicopter for night operations in the greater Dublin area, where the greatest number of night call-outs has occurred. Cover is also provided on request in urban areas outside Dublin. The demand for night-time air support in non-urban areas is relatively small. However, it is obviously desirable that the facility for air support in rural areas would be available should it be required, while having regard to the absolute priority of the safe operation of the aircraft. I am pleased to report that a training programme for night operations is being developed in conjunction with the introduction into service of the new EC 135.
When does the Minister of State expect the aircraft to be operational? She may have already answered that but I did not pick it up if she did. What type of operations are envisaged? Will they pertain to security, traffic control or flights of mercy to bring patients to hospital?
We hope that it will be fully operational by early next year. Obviously, the aircraft will be available for night-time cover, which will include security. I do not know if airlifts to hospitals will be a function, but, as I said, the purpose will largely be to assist the Garda with the night cover it normally does.
Has the Minister of State stated that this agreement has been reached and that the helicopter will be made available, because one can strongly criticise what could be described as an unacceptable level of bureaucratic bungling by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform which has left a badly-needed second helicopter for the Garda sitting unused in an airfield in the UK for almost two years? Why has it taken so much time? When does the Minister of State expect that the aircraft will be available for service?
I expect the aircraft to be operational by early next year, not just contracted.
Does the Minister accept the aircraft is being brought to this country as a statement of fact? Is it correct that it will be put into use early next year?
Yes, I confirm what the Deputy is saying.