Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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340. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of qualified military aircraft technicians and qualified military avionics technicians currently in the Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2775/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The military authorities have provided the requested information in the table below:

A Military Aircraft Technician (MAT) is an individual who has qualified from an Air Corps apprenticeship, or a direct entrant deemed to have the appropriate qualifications to work on aircraft in the various maintenance roles. Personnel in these roles cover the broad range of disciplines within the Air Corps e.g. avionics technicians, aircraft mechanics, crew leaders, and aircraft inspectors.

All MATs are employed in the maintenance of aircraft. At any one time, they may be employed in any of the broad range of maintenance disciplines, be in training, or serving overseas. The total number of qualified MATs is therefore inclusive of those who may be assigned to avionics duties, or any of the other disciplines, at any one time.

As outlined, there is a strong training pipeline for MATs consisting of 62 apprentices. Of these apprentices, 19 are undergoing basic military training. The remaining 43 are undergoing their qualification process and will, on successful completion, be streamed into rotary, fixed-wing or avionics technician categories.