Seán Connick (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of hours flown by the Air Corps aircraft on all training and operational duties in 2008; the breakdown of these flying hours and the percentage of flying time spent on training, on air ambulance, search and rescue, ministerial transport, security, aid to the civilian power and other duties in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17747/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The role of the Air Corps as set out in the White Paper on Defence is to provide a range of military and non-military services in support of the State. These services include the provision of a 24 hour general helicopter capability for a variety of tasks, including Garda Síochána support; the provision of a Ministerial Air Transport Service, the provision of fishery protection patrol services to agreed standards, the provision of an air ambulance service on the basis of agreed arrangements with the Department of Health & Children, and the provision of an appropriate capability to meet training requirements. In 2008, Air Corps aircraft flew in excess of 11,000 hours across a range of mission taskings. A detailed breakdown of the hours flown is presented in the tabular statement.

Air Corps Flying Hours 2008