Leo’s flying shame
240KM Fury over €5,500 for helicopter journey that would have cost a fraction by car or train...
LEO Varadkar was blasted yesterday for wasting more than €5,500 of taxpayers’ money on a helicopter to fly him to a photo-op.
The Taoiseach, two junior ministers and six staff members were picked up in Dublin and flown to one of the Aran Islands so he could announce a school’s new independent status.
Then they were taken to Salthill, Co Galway, for the Fine Gael think-in.
A Freedom of Information request from the Irish Mirror revealed the trip €5,512 and also took up the time of three Army crew.
Yesterday Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy said: “How can the Taoiseach possibly justify using a Defence Force helicopter to bring himself and his colleagues to a photo-op at a school on one of the Aran Islands?
“€5,500 is a huge expense for a journey that would have cost a fraction of that price if it had been made by car or train.
“And is it just a coincidence that the school event took place a day ahead of the Fine Gael think-in in Galway?
“It must surely grate on members of our Defence Forces to read reports about this kind of flaithulach use of an Army helicopter at public expense, when their wages are so low that some soldiers are facing homelessness and being told not to have children.” The helicopter was used for Mr Varadkar, junior ministers Sean Kyne and Joe Mchugh and six staff members on September 5.
The Taoiseach and his entourage could have saved thousands of euro by being driven to Connemara Airport in Inverin and then taking an Aer Arann Islands flight to Inis Meain. Or he could have used the ferry from Rossaveel Port.
The distance by air between Dublin and Inis Meain is just over 200km and the distance back into Galway city was another 40km.
This makes for a rate of €22.05 per kilometre.
The chopper left Baldonnel Airport and picked up its VIP passengers at Phoenix Park, before then heading to Galway.
The helicopter used for the trip was an Air Corps Agusta AW 139 and an aircraft commander, a co-pilot and one crew manned the flight.
The total flying time was 104 minutes and the cost of the Agusta is €3,180 an hour.
SOCIAL DEMOCRATS
How can they justify using a Defence Forces helicopter? CATHERINE MURPHY