Ministerial Transport

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 September 2018

Tuesday, 18 September 2018

Ceisteanna (99)

Niall Collins

Ceist:

99. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the full costs of travelling by Defence Forces helicopter to Inis Meáin recently. [37201/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

The Ministerial Air Transport Service (MATS) provides the Government and the President with an independent, flexible and effective air transport service to assist in meeting national and international obligations.

Air Corps helicopters are used from time to time for ministerial air transport in situations where, for operational reasons, fixed wing aircraft may not be available, the point of destination may not be close to an airport and in circumstances where there is a requirement for greater flexibility than can be delivered by fixed wing aircraft.

Information relating to the Ministerial Air Transport Service (MATS) is published on my Department’s website and is updated on a monthly basis. In advance of the next update, the MATS details sought by the Deputy are set out as follows:

Date	Ministerial Time on Board (Minutes)	Route	Department	Passengers
05/09/2018	104	Baldonnel Phoenix Park Inverin Inis Meáin Renmore Baldonnel	Taoiseach	Taoiseach, MoS x2, Plus 6

The costs associated with Air Corps helicopter used in provision of Ministerial Air Transport Service are as follows:

Aircraft	Average Fixed Costs Per Hour €	Average Variable Costs Per Hour €	Average Total Costs Per Hour €
Agusta AW 139	1,400	1,780	3,180