Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 623: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of times Defence Forces helicopters were used to transport Government Ministers in Ireland for 2011 and to date in 2012 in tabular form. [34892/12]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 625: To ask the Minister for Defence the pick-up point and destination, the person or persons carried on board and the cost relating to each of the trips in 2011 and to date in 2012 in which Defence Forces helicopters were used to transport Government Ministers here in tabular form. [34894/12]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 626: To ask the Minister for Defence the use by Government Ministers of the Government jet or other aircraft in 2011 and to date in 2012; the person or persons carried, the pick up point and destination and the estimated cost for each journey in tabular form;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34895/12]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 627: To ask the Minister for Defence the estimated cost of flying a helicopter on Government business per hour; and if he will compare this to the comparable charges from commercial companies in tabular form. [34896/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 623, 625 to 627,inclusive, together.

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. Helicopters have also 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 2011 to date in 2012 are set out in the tabular statement attached, and include details of the requesting Minister(s), dates of travel, mission route and Ministerial time on board.

My Department follows the normal practice in the aviation business of costing aircraft by reference to the cost per flying hour under each 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 under each heading, which are applicable to both 2011 and 2012, for each aircraft are contained in the tabular statement below.

It is important to note that these are average costs which take a number of variables into account. It is not possible to assign an exact cost to any particular mission.

My Department does not have comparable charges from commercial helicopter companies as my Department has no requirement to use commercial helicopters.

AW139 (From 1 January 2011 to date)