Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of times each Government Minister has requested usage of the ministerial air transport service for each of the years 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011; the location of each trip; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14856/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Ministerial Air Transport Service is primarily provided by the Gulfstream IV and Learjet 45 aircraft, which were specifically acquired for that purpose. The CASA maritime patrol aircraft have been used infrequently for Ministerial Air Transport missions where no MATS aircraft has been available for operational or technical reasons. The Beechcraft was also used as a backup aircraft for short and medium haul flights until the aircraft was taken out of service in early 2009.

Helicopters have been used on occasion for ministerial air transport in situations where, for operational reasons, fixed wing aircraft may not have been available or suitable for a particular mission.

Details of usage of the Ministerial Air Transport Service for 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011 are set out in the tabular statement below, and include details of the requesting Minister(s), dates of travel and mission route.