Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 526: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of flight hours incurred providing Ministerial transport in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011; if he will provide the number of training hours undertaken and the number of passengers in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29342/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Ministerial Air Transport Service (MATS) is primarily provided by the Gulfstream IV and Learjet 45 aircraft, which were specifically acquired for that purpose. Whilst these aircraft are primarily used for the MATS, from time to time they are also assigned a range of military and other taskings including Air Ambulance missions, humanitarian operations and support for Search and Rescue, Mountain Rescue and Pollution Control operations. Whilst usage details in relation to the MATS are provided, for operational and security reasons details regarding military use of Air Corps aircraft are generally not disclosed. I can, however, confirm that training flights are undertaken on all Air Corps aircraft from time to time. Details of the flight hours undertaken in providing Ministerial air transport for 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 are set out in the tabular statement:

The Learjet 45 has the capacity to carry 7 passengers and is tasked with short and medium haul missions to the UK and Europe. The Gulfstream IV, has the capacity to carry 14 passengers and can be tasked with long haul missions to destinations such as the United States, Africa and the Middle East, as well as to European destinations. The number of passengers varies on each individual mission flown. Also, the Beechcraft was used as a backup aircraft for short and medium haul MATS flights until the aircraft was taken out of service in early 2009.