Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 351: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Force personnel involved in the provision of the ministerial air transport service; the costs of that provision for the Defence Forces; the comparative cost with the provision of that service in 2008, 2003 and 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9874/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Ministerial Air Transport Service is provided by the Air Corps to facilitate members of the Government in fulfilling their official engagements at home and abroad. The Service is primarily provided by the Gulfstream IV and Learjet 45 aircraft, which were specifically acquired for that purpose, and the Beech Super Kingair 200 turboprop aircraft, which is now used mainly in a training role and which is made available for Ministerial Air Transport use from time to time. The Learjet is also regularly tasked with air ambulance missions, as provided for in the Service Level Agreement between my Department and the Department of Health and Children.

I am advised by military authorities that the number of Defence Forces personnel directly involved in the provision of the Military Air Transport Service is as follows:

A number of the Ministerial Air Transport staff are also assigned to various administrative appointments within the Air Corps which are not directly related to the provision of the Ministerial Air Transport Service.

My Department follows the normal practice in the aviation business of costing aircraft by reference to the cost per flying hour under either of two headings: The direct cost, i.e. the costs which are additional to those associated with having the aircraft and which only arise when the aircraft is flown including maintenance, fuel and support services; and the total cost, i.e. the direct cost plus the costs associated with having the aircraft, i.e. depreciation and personnel costs

The current rates per hour used to establish these costs in relation to Air Corps aircraft used in provision of Ministerial Air Transport Service are as follows:

With regard to establishing the comparative costs of the Ministerial Air Transport Service, the table below sets out the number of Ministerial Air Transport missions and Ministerial time on board each aircraft in each of the years 1998, 2003 and 2008.