Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 4 Nov 2003

Vol. 573 No. 3

Written Answers. - Ministerial Transport.

Dan Boyle

Ceist:

131 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Defence the situation concerning the new Government jet; when delivery is expected for the new Learjet; if other aircraft are being leased while the Government awaits delivery of the Learjet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25379/03]

Joe Sherlock

Ceist:

152 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence when the Air Corps expects to take delivery of the Bombardier Learjet 45 to augment the ministerial air transport service; the total cost of the acquisition of the aircraft; the total cost of maintenance contracts; if it is intended to lease other aircraft for the period of the Irish Presidency of the EU; the total cost of such proposed leasing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25305/03]

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

162 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Defence if he has satisfied himself with the safety standards of the Learjet 45 aircraft, which it is proposed to acquire for the ministerial air transport service, especially in view of the recent decision of the US Federal Aviation Authority to order the grounding of the jet following the discovery of a potential defect in the tail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25241/03]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 131, 152 and 162 together.

A contract has been signed with Bombardier Aerospace for the purchase of a Bombardier Learjet 45 light business jet for the ministerial air transport service. The Learjet will replace a 23 year old Beech Super King Air aircraft. The cost of the aircraft, including training and spares, is €8.4 million, excluding VAT. The cost of the aircraft is being funded from savings achieved from the 2003 Defence Vote provision for personal injury compensation. The acceptance and delivery of the aircraft will take place in December 2003. No other aircraft is being leased in the interim. The maintenance package for the aircraft is expected to cost in the region of €250,000 per annum.

The Learjet 45 will operate in tandem with the Gulfstream IV in providing a ministerial air transport Service for members of the Government. The use of the service requires the prior approval of the Taoiseach. The question of leasing other aircraft for the duration of the Irish Presidency of the EU is not being considered by my Department.

The Learjet 45 is built to the highest standards. All aspects of the design, build and instrumentation of the aircraft are fully certified by the Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, in America. The aircraft is also fully certified by the European Joint Aviation Authorities and the Irish Aviation Authority.

I am advised that there was a requirement for Bombardier to replace a part in the tail of the Learjet 45 aircraft which led to their grounding for a number of weeks. The matter has been dealt with to the satisfaction of the FAA and all aircraft are back flying. My Department was kept informed by Bombardier of the situation at all times. This issue has not had any bearing on the delivery schedule of the Learjet for the Air Corps which, as I have already mentioned, is due for acceptance and delivery in December 2003.

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

132 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Defence if the two CASA aircraft are no longer available for ministerial transport as a result of objections raised by the EU; the number of occasions in each year since 1998 on which the aircraft was used for ministerial transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25242/03]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

I am happy to say that no objections were raised by the EU in relation to the usage of the CASA aircraft. However, the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources did receive a letter seeking clarification in relation to the CASA aircraft operations. A reply was issued to the EU setting out details regarding the usage of the CASA. There has been no further correspondence since then.

The CASA aircraft is tasked primarily with fisheries protection. However, this aircraft is also deployed, from time-to-time, on search and rescue, pollution control, air ambulance, security and transport duties. In the search and rescue role, the CASA radar system provides a long-range search capability and top cover at the request of the coast guard. In the air ambulance role, it provides emergency transport of injured persons, transplants teams and donor organs, where time is of the essence.

Usage of the CASA as a transport aircraft is very limited, representing on average approximately 2% of the total hours flown by the aircraft annually over the past five years. In 2002, usage of the CASA on transport duties accounted for less than 1% of its total flying hours. The number of occasions in each year since 1998 that the aircraft was used for ministerial transport is as fol lows: 1998, two; 1999, 13; 2000, 12; 2001, 13; 2002, eight; and 2003, five – year to date.

The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, as the Department with primary responsibility for fisheries protection, reports annually to the EU Commission on the relevant CASA outputs, e.g. the number of fisheries patrols, flying hours and vessel sightings etc. Service delivery is based on specified outputs and overall fisheries protection priorities, agreed each year with the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.