asked the Minister for Defence the up-to-date position regarding the Timoney APC vehicles, the number purchased by the Army, if they have proved satisfactory and if it is intended to make further purchases.

A contract for five Timoney armoured personnel carriers, to be manufactured in Ireland, was placed by my Department. Four of these have been delivered and the fifth is expected to be delivered soon. The vehicles are not yet ready for operational use as certain matters need to be adjusted by the contractor under warranty.

The question of making further purchases will fall to be determined in accordance with requirements generally of armoured fighting vehicles and other items of defensive equipment in the light of operational needs. It is not possible to indicate at this stage when further purchases of Timoney armoured personnel carriers will be made.

Has the Timoney armoured car proved satisfactory?

The testing of these vehicles has not yet been completed.

When is it expected to have this completed?

They are still being tested and after they are tested they will be issued to units for operational use.

Each Fianna Fáil TD will get one.

Can the Minister tell us the number of Timoney vehicles which are out of order at the moment? Further, why are they not in use with our forces in the Lebanon?

These are separate questions.

For the simple reason that the vehicles have not yet been fully tested.

My information would be that some of them are out of order.

When they are fully tested they will be handed over to the various units for operational use.

How long are these tests going on?

They are going on for quite some time.

How long?

As the Deputy knows, there have been problems in respect of these vehicles. The company have been endeavouring to overcome the problems and to quite an extent they have been overcome, but the vehicles are still being tested.

At this moment are there any Timoney APC vehicles out of order?

No, they are not out of order. As I said before, they are being tested.

Is the Minister happy with the financial arrangements entered into by his Department——

That is a separate question.

——in respect of this vehicle in the research and construction of the vehicle?

Yes.

Were these vehicles purchased from this company prior to their being tested? If not, what new tests are being done now after purchase?

The vehicles were ordered by the Army. They are being tested. Problems arose and the vehicles were taken back by the company. The problems which had been there originally were overcome to some extent but the vehicles are now being tested again and when these tests are completed they will be handed over to operational units of the Army.

At what stage will the Minister be in a position to say whether the Timoney car is a success or whether it is giving satisfactory service?

As I said, it is not possible to say that until the testing is completed.

Could the Minister give an indication of the time factor involved? Will it be a year, five years, ten years?

I am afraid I cannot. That is really a matter for the military authorities.

Could the Minister tell the House the cost of the Timoney cars to date to the State?

I have not got that.

He should have that cost. This matter has been crying out from the word go.

That is a separate question.

10.