Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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115. To ask the Minister for Defence his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding Government transportation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39102/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Ministerial Air Transport Service (MATS) is provided by the Gulfstream IV and Learjet 45 aircraft which were specifically acquired for that purpose. The Gulfstream IV has a capacity to carry 14 passengers and can be tasked with long haul missions whilst the Learjet 45 has a capacity to carry 7 passengers and is tasked with short and medium haul missions. The Service provides the Government and the President with an independent, flexible, and effective air transport service to assist in meeting national and international obligations. This flexibility was particularly valuable during Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union last year. Both aircraft have also performed a range of non-MATS taskings, such as humanitarian and air ambulance missions.

On the 27th of July last, the Gulfstream IV aircraft, which has been in service for 23 years, travelled to the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation facility in Georgia, USA, for its annual maintenance inspection. During the inspection, issues were discovered with the aircraft’s undercarriage. My Department is currently in consultation with Gulfstream in relation to this situation. Meanwhile, the MATS is being provided by the Learjet 45 aircraft.

I will bring a memorandum to Cabinet on this matter in due course.