Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Defence the extent of money spent on the Government jet for each of the years 2009, 2010 and 2011. [31050/12]

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. 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 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 which includes 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 such as catering costs, cleaning services and airport handling charges.

· The total cost which is the direct cost plus the costs associated with having the aircraft, including depreciation and personnel costs.

Details of the hourly costs for each aircraft in 2011 are contained in the tabular statement below:

Details of the hourly costs for each aircraft in 2009 and 2010 are contained in the tabular statement below:

Details of hours flown per aircraft type for the three years in question are contained in the tabular statement below: