Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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233. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence given the investment of over €230 million in two new maritime surveillance aircraft for the Air Corps delivered in 2024, the targets that have been set by his Department and military command for a minimum level of surveillance flying hours per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57166/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The State’s investment in three C-295 aircraft and associated costs represents is a significant investment which serves as an indication of the Government’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that all branches of the Defence Forces continue to retain a range of flexible conventional military capabilities to meet the roles assigned.  The C295 Military Patrol aircraft’s are primarily equipped for maritime surveillance, particularly fisheries protection, but can also provide the Air Corps with the capability to deliver a range of services including logistics support and transport of troops and equipment, medical evacuation and air ambulances, search and rescue and a general utility role.

The Deputy will appreciate that, for operational and security reasons, it would not be appropriate to disclose further details of the operational deployment of individual Air Corps aircraft.

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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234. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence since the retirement of the King Air 200, multi-engine flight training in the Air Corps has been outsourced to civilian flight schools, if he intends continuing with this policy; if not, if there will be efforts to bring multi-engine conversion and airline pilot standards multi crew coordination courses back in-house; if this will feature as part of any future PC9 replacement contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57167/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am advised that the military authorities currently avail of external service providers to assist in the conversion training referred to by the Deputy. I am given to understand that same meets the current training requirements of the military authorities. This policy will be kept open to review as the fleet and associated training requirements develop in the coming years.