Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Defence the extent to which he expects to be in a position to augment, upgrade or otherwise continue to modernise the Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40134/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There are no plans for the acquisition of new aircraft for the Air Corps at the present time. This has to be taken in the context of the significant expenditure on the Air Corps fleet in recent years. The provision for the Air Corps in 2012 mainly relates to the maintenance and Power by the Hour contracts set up to keep the Air Corps fleet fully operational with specific maintenance work being carried out on the CASA Maritime Patrol Aircraft over the next two years. I am satisfied that the equipment, aircraft and technology available to the Air Corps are of a high standard and commensurate with the tasks assigned by Government.