asked the Minister for Defence if a boy had to be airlifted from the Aran Islands by an RAF helicopter because an Irish crew trained to land in the darkness was not available; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

(Limerick West): The Air Corps received a request on 15 October 1988, from the Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Shannon to airlift to hospital a boy who had been injured in a fall from his bicycle on Inis Mór. An air crew was available but due to the existence of widespread fog and a forecast of continuing fog on the Aran Islands, the Air Corps, having consulted the Meteorological Service in Shannon, decided that it would not be prudent to undertake the mission at that time. The Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre then requested the assistance of the Royal Air Force, which carried out the mission, using a larger helicopter and with the advantage of greater experience in such operations.

Are our helicopter crews trained and capable of landing at night?

(Limerick West): Yes.

Are they capable of landing in fog?

(Limerick West): The problem is with night flying rather than flying in heavy fog. It will also be noted, Deputy, that the RAF helicopter is stated to have been unable to bring the patient to Galway as was intended because of the conditions that prevailed that night. The helicopter had to go to Limerick. Even the RAF, who have greater experience and more sophisticated equipment than we have, were unable to fly to Galway Regional Hospital.

How many helicopter crews have been trained at present?

(Limerick West): I do not have that information off-hand but if the Deputy would put down a question, I would be very glad to give him the information.

That disposes of questions both ordinary and priority for today.