Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Defence the operational costs of running Air Corps helicopters; and the details of their usage for ministerial transport in 2008 and to date in 2009. [9742/09]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 354: To ask the Minister for Defence the annual cost of the use of helicopters in the Ministerial air transport service for each year since 2005 to date in 2009; the numbers of times, broken down by year and by Minister that such helicopters have been used; the duration and estimated cost of each use; if Ministers are required to travel to Baldonnel, County Dublin to board the helicopter or if alternative arrangements are made for Ministers; and if there are guidelines on the use of helicopters by Ministers. [9912/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 354 together.

As part of the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose to include that part in the Official Report.

The Air Corps helicopter fleet comprises two light utility EC135 helicopters and six utility AW139 helicopters. The Alouette helicopters were withdrawn from Air Corps service in September 2007.

The helicopters are operated by the Air Corps in a general purpose military operational and training role. Primary taskings include security, aid to the civil power, military exercises, infantry interoperability training and limited troop transport. They are also used to perform air ambulance, non-maritime Search and Rescue, aid to the civil authorities, community support and Ministerial and VIP air transport tasks.

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. In 2008, Ministerial transport represented approximately 5% of total helicopter flying hours.

The tables, previously referred to, set out the details of all Ministerial use of Air Corps helicopters from 1st January 2005 to the 2nd March 2009 including the date of each trip, the helicopter type tasked, the Ministerial time on board, the route and the requesting Minister. Each trip was in the conduct of official engagements and had the prior approval of An Taoiseach. Operational matters such as points of collection and points of set down are settled directly between the office of the Minister in question and the Department of Defence or Air Corps.

The Department of Defence 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 helicopters are also set out in the tabular statements. The costs are an approximation to actual costs.