ALL Coalition officeholders, with the exception of the Minister of State for Social Welfare, Mr Bernard Durkan, used the official ministerial air transport at a cost of an estimated £2.3 million, the Dail was told. The Minister for Defence, Mr Barrett, told Mr Ivor Callely (FF, Dublin North Central) that ministerial air transport was provided by the Air Corps using a Gulfstream IV jet (the Government jet) while a Beech Super Kingair turboprop aircraft was also made available from time to time, mainly to a limited number of destinations in Europe.

From December 16th, 1994, to the end of last month, the jet flew around 1,520 hours and the Beech Kingair flew some 710 hours with Ministers. The method used for costing ministerial air travel related to direct costs, which were additional to associated with having the aircraft. These were £1,320 an hour for Gulfstream IV and £405 an hour for the Beech Kingair.