Questions

327. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces were considered during the procurement process relating to the acquisition of the four Airbus H145 helicopters; whether the Department assessed medium-lift helicopter capability requirements as part of that process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37026/26]

328. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether any Israeli-manufactured, Israeli-developed, or Israeli-origin systems, avionics, software, communications equipment, sensors, or mission components form part of the Airbus H145 helicopters acquired for the Air Corps; whether ministerial approval was specifically sought or granted in relation to any such components; and if she will make a statement on the…

329. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether Cabinet approval was required and obtained in relation to the acquisition of the four Airbus H145 helicopters for the Air Corps; the date on which approval was granted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37028/26]

330. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether any independent external consultancy, technical advisory body, or procurement specialist was engaged to advise the Department in relation to the acquisition of the four Airbus H145 helicopters; the identity of any such body; the cost of such consultancy services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37029/26]

331. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the expected operational role of the four Airbus H145 helicopters within the Air Corps fleet structure; whether the aircraft are classified by the Department as light utility helicopters, medium-lift helicopters, or otherwise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37030/26]

332. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether any further helicopter procurement programme remains under consideration by the Department in relation to medium-lift capability for the Air Corps; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37031/26]

212. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the Government has conducted a legal or regulatory assessment concerning Ireland's international civil aviation obligations in relation to the operation, certification and oversight of State or military aircraft utilised in support of An Garda Síochána operations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36230/26]

294. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the approved establishment strength and current overall personnel strength of the Air Corps for each year from 2023 to date in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34128/26]

295. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the number of authorised pilot posts within the Air Corps and the number currently filled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34129/26]

296. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the number of personnel currently in the Air Corps pilot training pipeline; the annual intake capacity; and the projected annual output over the next three years. [34130/26]

297. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether any formal risk assessment has been conducted by her Department or the Defence Forces regarding current staffing levels in the Air Corps; and if so, to outline the findings at a policy level. [34131/26]

298. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the interim measures in place to maintain operational capability in the Air Corps pending completion of the Strategic Workforce Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34132/26]

67. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence further to recent Dáil Éireann debates, her views on past health and safety measures in the Air Corps; the actions she intends to take to support former aircraft maintenance and ancillary personnel; whether she intends to ensure their medical needs are met; and the other supports that can be offered to the category affected as a whole. [33426/26]

103. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the number and percentage of Air Corps aircraft that are currently fully operational, partially operational, and unavailable for service due to maintenance requirements or staffing constraints; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32878/26]

104. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the annual attrition rates for Air Corps personnel in each of the categories of pilots, aircrew, and aircraft technicians for each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32879/26]

105. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the average time required to recruit, train and bring to full operational competency a pilot, an aircrew member, and an aircraft technician within the Air Corps; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32880/26]

106. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether her Department or the military authorities have assessed the impact of current staffing shortfalls on operational capacity within the Air Corps, including any effect on mission availability, response times or service delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32881/26]

107. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the number of Air Corps operations, missions or taskings that have been delayed, curtailed or cancelled due to staffing shortages or maintenance capacity constraints in each of the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32882/26]

108. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether a workforce gap analysis has been undertaken in respect of aircraft maintenance and technical personnel within the Air Corps; if so, to provide the findings and any identified shortfalls; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32883/26]

111. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence if any confidential or secret deal regarding pay or allowances was reached with a specific group of personnel within the Air Corps / Fire Service at Casement Aerodrome; if these agreements were made outside of the standard Conciliation and Arbitration (C&A) scheme to ensure the continued operation of the airfield; and if she will disclose the date, terms, a…

112. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence if she is aware of allegations that a 'secret deal' was reached with three individuals in the Air Corps Fire Service following threats to cease operations at the aerodrome ; if she will explain the reason such an arrangement would be implemented. [33173/26]

214. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Defence given that the new strategic reach Falcon 6x jet comes fitted as standard with a heads up display and enhanced vision system as part of the Dassault FalconEye System, and that these components are manufactured by an Israeli firm, if she can confirm that all or any of these Israeli components were removed from the aircraft; the cost to the taxpayer of these works; an…

217. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Defence the number of trained pilots, aircrew and technical staff assigned to each aircraft type within the Air Corps; and the current vacancy rates. [31804/26]

299. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether her Department maintains aggregated, non-operationally sensitive performance metrics relating to aircraft availability rates within the Air Corps fleet; and if so, the average annual availability rate across the fleet for each of the past five years. [29311/26]

300. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the specific performance indicators, reports, or datasets reviewed by the High Level Planning and Procurement Group (HLPPG) in monitoring Air Corps capability; and whether any formal minutes, summaries, or performance dashboards are produced as part of this process. [29312/26]