Cutbacks in Government spending have forced the Department of Defence to curb plans to buy 40 more top-of-the-range armoured personnel carriers for the Defence Forces over the next two years, it has emerged.
Affected by tighter budgets, the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, signed a contract in early December with the Swiss company Mowag to buy just 25 of the internationally-regarded Piranha 8x8s, spreading the €33.2 million cost over three years.
"Certainly, in the current climate, 25 are more than enough for what we need. Just because we took an option on 40 did not mean that we were ever going to buy that number," a spokesman for the Minister told The Irish Times.
The Department bought 40 of the vehicles in November 1999, along with an initial supply of spares, special tools and training courses, for €50.8 million following a stiff tender competition.
The first Mowags, including 34 troop-carriers, four equipped to perform as mobile command points, one fitted out for vehicle recovery and one as an ambulance, have already been delivered.
Six of the Mowags are already being used by Irish troops serving in Eritrea with the United Nations Missions in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) following extensive training of troops at The Curragh.
"I am advised by the military authorities that the APCs are performing exceptionally well in the mission area," the Minister told Mr Tommy Broughan, the Labour TD.
Deliveries of the 25 additional vehicles will begin in March 2004. "Payments under the contract will extend from December 2002 to September 2005 due to the budgetary situation," Mr Smith said.
The decision to buy more Mowags was further evidence of his commitment to upgrade the equipment used by the Defence Forces, the Minister said. "While expenditure programmes will now have to be prioritised due to the changed financial situation, I will ensure that a substantive re-equipment programme will still go ahead to enhance the efficiency, professionalism and safety of the Defence Forces."
Despite a high international reputation, the first Mowag APCs sent to the Defence Forces had to bereturned to Switzerland after cracks appeared in the hulls of the vehicles.
"That was a very serious issue. Everything since then has been spot-on. Nobody else builds an APC as good as Mowag," the Department's spokesman said.
Meanwhile, the Air Corps will shortly begin to operate a search-and-rescue service out of Sligo Airport using a Sikorsky S61 medium-range helicopter, leased by the Coast Guard, in place of an ageing Dauphin helicopter.
Training for the Air Corps pilots on the S61, which will provide search-and-rescue cover throughout the north-west, is being provided by CHC Ireland, which will also maintain it.
In addition, the Minister is expected to announce the purchase shortly of eight trainer aircraft for the Air Corps, following a long-running tender competition.
