66. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence when he was first apprised of the possibility of the Air Corps reducing its operational hours; if he received recommendations as to how the situation could be averted; and the actions he took to prevent the situation from arising. [31310/25]
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
68. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the steps being taken to increase the numbers of personnel serving in the Air Corps to ensure an appropriate level of service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30987/25]
79. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the measures he is taking to ensure the Air Corps remains fully operational at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel; his plans to recruit air traffic controllers and other personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30283/25]
221. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to report the number of fishery protection patrols undertaken by the Air Corps in 2022, 2023 and 2024. [31402/25]
224. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if there is consideration underway to reduce the hours of operation of military flight operations due to shortages of qualified air traffic controllers; if so, to set out the nature of the reduction, the impact these changes will have on emergency patient transfers from Casement Aerodrome, and separately the impact this will have on the operation …
270. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if there are plans to replace the Pilatus PC-9M aircraft within the Air Corps in 2025. [29186/25]
271. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if there are plans on having the Siborsky SH-3 Sea King type of helicopter within the Air Corps fleet. [29187/25]
277. Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if the Air Corps will continue to have a role in maritime surveillance, maritime security and defence patrols and fisheries protection and that this contribution will be recognised in any future maritime security strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29585/25]
283. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of persons currently undergoing training to become qualified air traffic controllers within Air Corps; and when each of those persons will qualify, in tabular form. [30394/25]
23. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence whether he has ruled out acquiring Israeli-built Spike anti-tank guided missiles for use on the recently purchased Airbus H145M helicopters. [26106/25]
342. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the rationale for purchasing four H145M helicopters; whether any missiles have been bought for these helicopters; whether there is any plan to buy any missiles for these helicopters; and if so, which type of missiles and from which company. [23613/25]
344. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide an overview on the recent acquisition of Airbus H145M helicopters and the capabilities he expects them to provide to the Defence Forces. [23731/25]
345. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his views on the extent of Israeli designed or produced military technology included in the recently purchased Airbus H145M helicopters, and if these helicopters have the capability to use the Israeli-made Spike anti-tank guided missile. [23732/25]
346. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if his Department has examined the possibility of using Spike anti-tank guided missiles on the recently purchased Airbus H145M helicopters, and if he has plans to acquire these missiles. [23733/25]
348. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will commit to a public plebiscite on the question of the removal of the triple lock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23745/25]
358. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of pilots within the Air Corps that went to the US for specialist military flying training courses in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025; the names of the courses attended and duration of these courses, per year, in tabular form. [24270/25]
360. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if Casement Aerodrome has the necessary parking stands and length of runaway required for Airbus A380 type of aircrafts to use then aerodrome. [24272/25]
154. 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, and potential engagements with interested groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18076/25]
179. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of fighter jets the Government intends to purchase; the estimated cost of each aircraft; the number of personnel required to operate and maintain each new aircraft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18046/25]
208. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will outline the future plans for Baldonnel Aerodrome; the number of personnel stationed there; if there are plans to increase this number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17744/25]
352. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide copies of all air-quality tests pertaining to the Air Corps spray paint shop from 1 January 2010 to date. [20672/25]
31. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the timeframe for the works for the planned upgrade of Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel; the State agencies involved including travel routes there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17957/25]
210. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if funding is available this year to replace the air traffic control tower at Casement Aerodrome; and, if so, when this work will commence. [13869/25]
236. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will outline, given that according to the European Commission 17 large-capacity power generators were delivered to Ireland from EU stockpiles and from Denmark and Luxembourg to help with the after-effects of storm Éowyn by the air forces of Member States, including Romania, whether the Air Corps had the available capacity to fly the generators to …
207. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of fighter jets the Government intends to purchase; if he will provide the make and model of the aircraft; the estimated cost of each aircraft; the hourly cost of flight per aircraft; the type of munitions these aircraft will have capability to carry; the circumstances in which the aircraft will be permitted to reach and exceed the spee…