As the Deputy will appreciate, all aircraft must undergo regular maintenance and scheduled overhauls to ensure that they are fully airworthy and meet the certification standards laid down for the aviation industry. I am advised that the Air Corps perform all first line maintenance across the fleet where possible while heavy/annual maintenance is outsourced abroad.
The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the table below.
Year
|
Total amount of money spent on overseas aircraft maintenance
(€'000s)
|
2016
|
1,741
|
2017
|
1,890
|
2018 to-date
|
550
|
I am advised by the military authorities that the figure stated above for 2018 to-date is in respect of overseas maintenance for which invoices have been paid. The Deputy will note that there are a number of outstanding invoices for work ongoing or already completed.