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Air Corps

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 October 2021

Tuesday, 19 October 2021

Questions (529, 530)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

529. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Defence the overall cost of providing, maintaining and fuelling the one Air Corps aircraft provided for helicopter emergency medical services related work to his Department per year. [50634/21]

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Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

530. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Defence the average yearly cost to the Air Corps or his Department for the provision of a helicopter emergency medical services aircraft to the taxpayer for both the aircraft and associated costs. [50635/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 529 and 530 together.

The Air Corps provides a broad range of services in accordance with its primary defence and security role. It also undertakes a diverse range of non-security-related tasks including the provision of air ambulance services to the Health Service Executive (HSE).

As recently outlined to the Deputy, the 2015 Government Decision, which established the Emergency Aeromedical Support (EAS) service on a permanent basis, approved an additional annual provision of €2.2 million to the Defence Vote. The Health Vote is reduced accordingly.

The increase in the Defence Vote since 2016 has provided funding towards the reimbursement of Air Corps costs incurred in the provision of the EAS service. The €2.2 million sum is based on 480 flying hours per annum and is subject to periodic costs review.

The €2.2 million takes account of fixed and variable costs associated with the provision of this dedicated daytime aeromedical service. These costs include salaries and related personnel costs and also operating costs which include fuel, maintenance and depreciation. Personnel costs associated with NAS personnel are borne by the HSE and are not reflected in the €2.2 million figure.

It is not possible to separate out the cost of operating a single helicopter from overall administration costs as pay and allowances and other support costs for Air Corps personnel are not identified separately, but are included in the overall programme costs in the appropriate subheads of the Vote. It also not the case that one specific heli is dedicated to the EAS service rather that a heli type, the AW139 is committed to the service, and any one of the AW139 fleet may provide the service on any given day.

Question No. 530 answered with Question No. 529.
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