Vol. 547 No. 1
250 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Defence the facilities and concessions available to members of the Defence Forces in respect of airline trips home; if a free or subsidised journey is provided every so often; the extent of the subsidy; if it is provided as a concession by the airlines; if there is a cost to the Exchequer; if concessions have been curtailed of late; if many requests have been denied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2285/02]
Where Defence Forces personnel are serving in unaccompanied posts overseas for a duration of 12 months or more, the cost of one flight home per annum is met by the Department. In the event of the individual member not availing of the flight, the person's spouse may, subject to local conditions, be permitted to travel to the mission area at the expense of the Department.
In the case of personnel who are accompanied overseas by their spouses but who have children in full time education in Ireland, one return journey per annum is provided by the Department for the children to visit their parents, if the posting is of 12 months or longer duration.
In the event of domestic situations arising for personnel serving overseas a compassionate approach is adopted in cases where they may require to be repatriated. Travel and subsistence costs for the visits of next of kin of seriously injured or ill members serving on overseas missions would normally be funded by the Department. No concessions are made by airlines with regard to such flights for Defence Forces personnel.
