The White Paper on Defence which was approved by Government on 29 February 2000 provides for significant new investment in the Air Corps. In recognition of the urgent equipment modernis ation requirements of the Air Corps I was pleased to announce immediately the allocation of a total of up to £55 million over the next three years for this purpose. These funds will initiate vital investment in new aircraft for the Air Corps. The General Officer Commanding the Air Corps has welcomed the news of this new investment. He has been asked to draw up the full technical specification documents which will be necessary for commencement of the procurement process in relation to two new medium range helicopters and a further helicopter mainly for the training of pilots for the Garda air support unit. This work is under way in the Air Corps and a joint civil-military project team will be set up in due course to organise and oversee the procurement process.
The White Paper on Defence accepts the Price-waterhouseCoopers review of the Air Corps as the basis for the development of that service. The Government's policy is that the Air Corps will be heavily involved in providing services to agencies outside the Defence Forces. The extent and nature of these services will of necessity be a determinant of the type of aircraft to be provided for the Air Corps.
The Dauphin helicopters undergo regular maintenance and scheduled overhauls to ensure they are fully air worthy and meet the certification standards laid down for the aviation industry. In the context of maintenance, overhauls and certification requirements, the active Dauphin fleet has been at a minimum on occasions. I have been advised by the military authorities that the Dauphin has made three precautionary landings in the last 12 months.
No Air Corps personnel have been taken off search and rescue duties and those missions continue to be undertaken by Air Corps flying officers using Dauphin helicopters.
