asked the Minister for Defence if the construction of Timoney APC has been completed; if it is intended to manufacture vehicles in Ireland; and when production is likely to start.
Written Answers. - Armoured Personnel Carrier.
101.
As I informed the Deputy in reply to previous questions on this subject, development work on the armoured personnel carrier project involved three vehicles. The vehicles have been delivered to the Defence Forces.
During proving tests on the first vehicles various problems were encountered and the stage was reached when further development work was regarded as uneconomic. It was decided therefore to utilise this vehicle as spares for the other two. These two vehicles have been undergoing proving tests and while it was thought that the tests would have been completed by now, it was found necessary to extend the tests before a final evaluation could be made.
Until the tests have been completed a decision cannot be taken on the question of the purchase by my Department of further vehicles based on them.