Government scraps plans to purchase 40-seater jet

The Government has decided not to proceed with purchase of a new 40-seater jet in light of the current budgetary difficulties being faced by the Exchequer, it emerged this evening.

A statement from the Taoiseach's office said Mr Ahern had recommended to the Cabinet they should not proceed with the purchase "in the context of a review of expenditure and budgetary issues".

Tenders for supply of the large jet had been sought and were in the course of being examined.

The Government had advertised in the EU Journal that it wanted to acquire one 40-seater aircraft to replace the 14-seater Gulfstream.

If it was purchased new the aircraft could have cost the taxpayer up to €40 million.

The Government said the plan to replace the smaller five-seater Beechcraft, purchased in 1980, with a 7-9 seater jet will proceed.

It said this will be paid for out of savings in the current year's Department of Defence budget.

Labour's transport spokesperson, Ms Roisin Shortall, this evening welcomed the decision saying "the plan to acquire a lavish new jet would have been an outrageous waste of taxpayer's money at a time when crucial public services are being cut back.

Ms Shortall said: "However, I am not convinced that this is a case of the government seeing sense at a late stage."

"I believe it is probable that the government found that it could simply not secure a new jet in the limited time frame between now and the Irish Presidency of the EU which is now only five months away," she said.