Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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370. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if there are plans to replace a Learjet 45 aircraft within the Air Corps fleet. [28065/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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An Inter-Departmental Group was convened last year to examine options, in line with the Public Spending Code, for the future provision of an independent, international air transport service for use by the President and Government. The Learjet 45 is the primary aircraft providing this service at present. The Learjet has been in continuous operation since 2004 and is now nearing the end of its natural life.

The capability of future aircraft to carry out a supplementary broader utility role in conjunction with their primary Ministerial Air Transport Service (MATS) function is also being examined by the Group. However no decisions have yet been made in respect of the purchase of aircraft. As with all capital investment decisions costing over €10 million, the requirements of the Public Spending Code would need to be met, covering the various steps required in assessing the viability of the proposal and those associated with relevant decision-making and potential subsequent public investment in any replacement aircraft.

The Group is chaired by my Department and also comprises representatives from the Departments of the Taoiseach, Public Expenditure and Reform, Transport and Foreign Affairs.

The Group is expected to make a recommendation to Government later this year.