56 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Defence the progress made to date in regard to the acquisition of new Piranha armoured personnel carriers for the Defence Forces; the number delivered to date; the number in respect of which cracks have been discovered in the hulls; when the balance is expected to be delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4687/02]

97 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defence if he has received a recommendation from the Defence Forces for the acquisition of additional armoured personnel carriers and light armoured vehicles in addition to the Piranhas already being acquired; if so, the extent and cost of the proposed purchases; the period over which the purchases are likely to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4654/02]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 97 together.

Following a tender competition which was conducted in strict compliance with Government procurement procedures, a contract was signed on 30 November 1999 for the supply by Mowag of Switzerland of 40 armoured personnel carriers, APCs, initial spares, special tools and training courses.

The 40 vehicles, known as Piranha 8 x 8s, are being manufactured as 34 troop carrier variants, four command variants, one recovery variant and one ambulance variant. The total cost of the contract, which is spread over five years, is in the region of €50.8 million, including VAT.

The full production run on the APCs is almost complete. A total of 32 APCs have now been delivered to the Curragh Camp. A further five APCs are scheduled for delivery on or before 22 February 2002. The balance, i.e. three APCs will be delivered by the end of March 2002 – almost two years ahead of previous expectations.

Training of Defence Force personnel on the APCs has been continuing apace and the first overseas deployment of the APCs has taken place with the dispatch of five APCs to Eritrea for service with UNMEE. A further APC is due to be dispatched for service in Eritrea in the near future.