Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Whether one is referring to aeroplanes or helicopters, the crucial issue which arises relates to the need to ensure that they are properly maintained, serviced and checked and are absolutely safe to use. As everyone is aware, the State has limited funds and resources and the question of whether we might, at some point in the future, invest in new aircraft has not really been on the agenda. A reasonable sum of money - on occasion it is substantial - is required to purchase replacement parts for aircraft.

A sum of €8.8 million is provided for the maintenance of aircraft.

In the context of dealing with aircraft equipment and expenses, the priority expenditure for 2014 remains the delivery of the full range of airport and operational services associated with the roles assigned to them by the Government. The operational requirements are outlined in the Defence Forces annual plan that we published for 2014. Major projects currently under way or planned for this year include an overhaul of a CASA engine which will cost approximately €600,000; a continuation of an upgrade programme of on-board software for the AW139 helicopter fleet, the cost of which is also estimated to be approximately €600,000 in 2014; and the commencement of an end-of-life upgrade of the PC-9M simulator projection system, which is estimated to cost approximately €280,000.

In the context of the annual maintenance of aircraft, at some stage an issue could arise where, when maintenance work is being undertaken, the level of expenditure that could be identified as being required to replace parts may give rise to questions about the economic advisability of spending that money as compared to getting some alternative aircraft. That has not occurred to date. None of us can anticipate whether it would. To ensure I am not misunderstood in any way, I point out that it is not in the plans to purchase any new aircraft.

The aircraft perform a variety of functions. The focus in the media is always the use of aircraft by Ministers to attend on Government business abroad but the same aircraft that are used for those purposes are used very often for emergency reasons to provide urgent medical assistance to individuals. They have been used on occasions to assist with regard to Irish nationals in trouble-spots in the world. There is a whole range of uses to which they can be put. The reality is that we are unlikely to be replacing anything in the short term.

The aeromedical helicopter operation is run out of Custume Barracks in Athlone, and we have addressed that previously. That operation has proved to be very successful and it is continuing. In a sense it is a joint venture between ourselves, the Department of Health and the HSE. We are currently carrying out a review of that operation in the context of efficiencies and how it is working. It is not envisaged, in any shape or form, that a service of that nature will not be maintained. That is where matters stand.

There is an obvious issue in this context. If we reach a point where a decision is made, for operational reasons, that there will be a need for new aircraft, the Deputy and I can predict with certainty that instead of focusing on all of the other usages for an aircraft, the only thing the media will focus on is some suggestion that Ministers want a new airplane so that they can go on some sort of junket. No one realises that the only occasions they are used is when there is major public business abroad and when there is a need for Ministers to go from this State and return with efficiency and speed because of all of the other public duties they have to engage in, but that is never the narrative in the media and, on occasions, it is not the narrative from Opposition Deputies. There is no question of us rushing into anything here. The big capital expenditure this year and next is on the new naval vessels.