Vol. 472 No. 6
225 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Defence the total cost to the Exchequer arising from ministerial air transport use from 16 December 1994 to date in 1996; the estimated cost for the first six months in 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23720/96]
The estimated cost to the Exchequer of ministerial air transport service during the period in question is £2.7 million. This figure is based on the cost to date in 1996 of the air taxi service together with the direct cost of using the Gulfstream IV and Beech aircraft of the Air Corps aircraft for ministerial transport. These direct costs include the cost of maintenance, fuel and support services arising from the use of the aircraft in question.
The estimated direct cost of operating the Gulfstream IV and Beech aircraft for the first six months of 1996 is £530,000. It is not possible to estimate the cost of ministerial air transport for the first six months of 1997 as this will be directly related to the number of flying hours involved. However, it is expected that it should be in line with the cost in 1996.
226 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Defence the total moneys paid to date to Hunting Aviation for air taxi services; the extent of the use of this air taxi service to date; the costs involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23721/96]
The air taxi service has been used to supplement Air Corps aircraft on a total of 119 occasions since it was first used on 20 May 1996. To date accounts, in the amount of stg£771,453.70, for all but the twenty most recent flights have been received from and paid to Hunting Aviation Ltd.
228 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Defence his usage of air transport for foreign and internal flights in 1996; the passengers who travelled with him on each flight; and the related costs in this regard. [23730/96].
The following tabular statement sets out my usage of fixed wing air transport to date in 1996. The estimated total cost is £45,000.
Use of Air Transport by Minister for Defence
|
Date |
Aircraft |
Route |
No. of Additional Passengers |
Remarks |
|
13/03/96 |
Scheduled Flights |
Dublin-Larnaca-Tel Aviv-Larnaca- Beirut-Damascus |
6 |
|
|
23/03/96 |
G IV |
Damascus-Dublin |
4 |
|
|
28/04/96 |
G IV |
Cork-Beirut-Baldonnel |
4 |
Returned 30/04/96 |
|
07/05/96 |
Scheduled Flights |
Dublin-Birmingham-Dublin |
2 |
|
|
03/11/96 |
G IV |
Baldonnel-Zagreb-Sarajevo- Dubrovnik-Brussels |
5 |
Returned 5/11/96 |
