Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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222. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he plans to put out a new tender before the end of the year to replace Learjet 45 aircraft within the Air Corps. [38556/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In January 2023, following a review of extensive Public Spending Code work carried out on behalf of the Interdepartmental Ministerial Air Transport Service Review Group, I instructed my officials to move the MATS project to procurement stage, considering both new and second-hand replacement capability, which can also provide a broader utility role, including strategic reach in crisis situations and medical evacuation.

Given the unknown delivery timeframes associated with aircraft procurements, and concerns around Learjet availability, I also instructed officials to go to the market for a contingency arrangement by way of charter aircraft, to limit the risk of a gap in the availability of a Ministerial Air Transport Service when required.

To that end a civil/military was established earlier this year to progress both procurement projects. Work is ongoing to finalise the initial stage procurement document for MATS which will be published later this year.

In parallel, a Request for Tender for the establishment of a Framework Agreement as a Contingency Arrangement for MATS was published in April. That procurement process is coming to a close and will be concluded shortly.