442. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Defence the position of the Air Corps with regard to operational capability; if they can operate 24/7; if not, if they are operating a restricted service; and if there are sufficient air traffic controllers. [1254/26]
Topics / Air Corps
A subject heading for parliamentary questionsAir Corps
207 questions from 47 TDs, between 22 January 2025 and 20 October 2026.
207
questions
190 written, 17 oral
47
TDs have asked
10
parties and groups
Independents counted together
5
departments asked
Questions per month
The record holds no questions for August, when the Dáil does not sit.
Jan 2025Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions |
|---|---|
| January 2025 | 1 |
| February 2025 | 4 |
| March 2025 | 5 |
| April 2025 | 2 |
| May 2025 | 11 |
| June 2025 | 22 |
| July 2025 | 8 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 9 |
| October 2025 | 9 |
| November 2025 | 5 |
| December 2025 | 3 |
| January 2026 | 6 |
| February 2026 | 5 |
| March 2026 | 25 |
| April 2026 | 44 |
| May 2026 | 29 |
| June 2026 | 8 |
| July 2026 | 7 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 3 |
| October 2026 | 1 |
Who asks, by party
The party each TD belonged to on the day, in alphabetical order. Parties differ a lot in size, and members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them, so this shows who raised it, not how much a party cares about it.
The TDs who asked most
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.
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54
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27
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22
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14
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13
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11
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6
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5
Asked of
Debated under the same heading
Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
443. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Defence the plans in place for an increase in Air Corps capacity (details supplied). [1255/26]
444. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Defence if Air Corps helicopters are capable of night-time operation and surveillance; and if PC12s are capable of night-time reconnaissance. [1256/26]
119. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence whether an open tender was conducted for the procurement of four H145M helicopters announced in January 2025; and if not, the justification for the procurement method used. [72600/25]
87. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence further to recent Dáil 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 as a whole. [72051/25]
239. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Defence if the Air Corps have received the new Government jet; if not when does the Air Corps expect to receive this jet. [71772/25]
263. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if any personnel from Air Corps went to the UK for a specialist training course which is not available within the State in 2024 and to date in 2025; if so, the name and duration of this course, in tabular form. [60977/25]
20. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to outline, further to recent Dáil debates, his views on past health and safety measures in the Air Corps; the potential engagements with interested groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60509/25]
22. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an update on plans for Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60418/25]
33. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide an update on the Government’s plans to purchase fighter jets; the cost associated with the planned purchase of these jets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60494/25]
234. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the status of an air ambulance base (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58048/25]
233. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste 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]
234. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste 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…
236. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence given the Air Corps has previously employed the armed PC9 as an air interceptor for high profile security events such as the visit of Queen Elizabeth II and given recent personnel issues in the Air Cops, if the Air Corps presently has trained pilots to employ the PC9 in this armed role; if it will feature as a part of security arrangements for the upcom…
237. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence given the recent investment of over €350 million in aircraft for the Air Corps (details supplied), if he is satisfied that sufficient hangar space exists in Casement Aerodrome to protect these aircrafts from the corrosive moist Irish climate; if not, when additional hangar space will come online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57170/25]
240. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if he will confirm the revised delivery timeline for the DART+ coastal north project; if he will clarify whether the project has been further delayed to Q2 2027; the reasons for any such delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56506/25]
47. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for details concerning the purchase of H145 helicopters by the Defence Force Air Corps, in particular the details of the tendering process ahead of this purchase; whether any consideration was given to the fact that these helicopters contain 'Helionix' subsystems manufactured by Israeli manufacturer (details supplied); and whether he is aware…
49. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the reason his Department only signed a contract for the delivery of four Airbus H145M helicopters, delivery of which will begin on a phased basis in Q1 2027, when the Department was aware that the Air Corps EC-135s are presently at the end of their useful service life; if he will accept that it would have been preferable to have begun the contract ne…
55. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the steps being taken to increase the numbers of personnel serving in the Air Corps so as to ensure an appropriate level of service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53499/25]
56. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if his Department has taken steps to expand the Air Corp pilot training programme to be provided by other EU member states. [53500/25]
6. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if the new aircraft have come into the Air Corps fleet; and when these aircraft will be ready for operational duties. [50646/25]
33. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an update on the operational functionality of Baldonnell Aerodrome given the recent issues with air traffic control personnel. [48979/25]
63. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the position regarding air traffic controllers and the impacts of the reduced staff force on Air Corps flights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49269/25]
169. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if steps have been taken to address the shortage of people and facilities for the training of pilots in the Air Corps. [49369/25]
175. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he is satisfied that the PC-9M fleet can continue in service beyond its current expected end-of-life in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47815/25]