Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

49. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of requests for assistance made to the Air Corps in 2016; the number of requests that were and were not fulfilled; the reasons the Air Corps was unable to facilitate any such requests; the required complement of staff necessary to enable the Air Corps to respond appropriately to requests for assistance; the number of vacancies in the Air Corps; the steps being taken to fill such vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15401/17]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

51. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of requests the Air Corps could not fulfil from 2015 to date in 2017 as a consequence of inadequate aircraft, pilot or air traffic controller availability, in tabular form. [15271/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 51 together.

The Air Corps continues to provide a broad range of services on a daily basis for a diverse range of tasks such as Army and Naval Service support, the Emergency Aero-medical Service, maritime patrols and fishery protection, the Ministerial Air Transport Service, inter-hospital transfers and Aid to the Civil Power duties including the Garda Air Support Unit and security escorts.

The Air Corps is currently experiencing shortages of trained personnel and this has led to reduced availability of certain aircraft.

I want to assure the Deputies that there is significant work underway in the Defence Organisation, both civil and military, aimed at improving the capacity of the Air Corps. The 2015 White Paper on Defence commits to maintaining the strength of the Permanent Defence Forces at 9,500 personnel, comprising of 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps and 1,094 Naval Service as stated in the 2015 White Paper on Defence. The strength of the Air Corps on 28 February 2017 stands at 701.

Recruitment of new personnel is taking place and pilot cadets are in training. However, it will take time for these cadets, when qualified, to develop their skills and expertise. As such, a return to previous levels of capability in the Air Corps will be a gradual process as pilots within the system progress to become aircraft commanders and newly qualified cadets become pilots.

Actions are also underway to return a full level of air traffic control services to the Air Corps. Air Traffic Control (ATC) training is taking place and options to ensure the longer-term sustainability of ATC services in Baldonnel are being identified. These measures will facilitate a gradual extension of operational hours for air traffic control services in Baldonnel over the year, beginning this May, as newly qualified personnel develop their experience and with an anticipated return to full 24/7 service in early 2018.

In addition, the Air Corps is currently inducting a further Air Traffic Control Course, eight students commenced training on Monday, 27th March 2017, this is in addition to six (6) Air Traffic Services personnel who are part-way through their training. 

A new NCO promotion competition, to fill the ranks of Sergeants and above, including those in the Air Corps, has been launched. It is anticipated that promotions from this competition will commence in Quarter 3 2017.

The 2017 Air Corps Apprenticeship competition is due to commence shortly and it is planned that following this process, 25 new Air Corps apprentices will be inducted in late September 2017 to commence their training. This is in addition to 11 Air Corps Apprentices who are due to commence their training shortly.

I have requested the detailed information sought by the Deputy from the Military Authorities and I will revert to the Deputy in due course when this information is available.