Billy Timmins
Ceist:244 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Defence the conditions which were attached by the European Union to the funding provided for the purchase of the CASA aircraft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1988/02]
Written Answers. - Defence Forces Equipment.
Billy Timmins
Ceist:245 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Defence the number of CASA aircraft which the Aer Corps have; if there is a recommended total of yearly flying hours; the number of hours flown by each aircraft in 2001; if he will provide a breakdown, by time, of the tasks undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1989/02]
Billy Timmins
Ceist:246 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Defence if concerns have been expressed to him by the GOC Aer Corps, or GOC Naval Service, or members of the Aer Corps or Naval Service with respect to shortcomings in fishery protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1990/02]
Billy Timmins
Ceist:247 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Defence if a representative of the European Commission has been in touch with his Department requesting a breakdown of flying hours by the CASA aircraft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1991/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 244 to 247, inclusive, together.
Two CASA aircraft – C252 and C253 – were delivered in 1994 under the terms of the 1991 to 1995 fishery protection support programme. While the conditions of use of the CASA aircraft for EU funding purposes were not explicitly set out the primacy of the fishery protection role was implicit. A combined flying hour profile of the two CASA aircraft, for fishery protection duties, of approximately 1400 was indicated in the context of the EU 1996 – 2000 fishery protection programme. The breakdown, on a flying hour basis, of the various operational tasks undertaken in 2001 is as follows:–
|
Fishery Protection |
1,390 |
|
Search & Rescue |
57 |
|
Air Ambulance |
65 |
|
Security Flights |
108 |
|
Occasional Ministerial Transport |
42 |
The total hours flown in 2001 by CASA C252 and C253 amounted to 875 and 927 respectively. These figures include hours flown for training, maintenance etc. purposes. I am satisfied that a satisfactory and effective fishery protection service, utilising existing resources, is being provided by the Naval Service and Air Corps and no concerns to the contrary have been expressed to me by either the GOC Air Corps, the flag officer commanding the Naval Service, or by members of the Air Corps or Naval Service.
There has been no approach to my Department from any representative of the European Com mission seeking a breakdown of CASA aircraft flying hours.