A second Garda helicopter for which the State paid €5 million has been sitting unused in a UK airfield for two years due to a row between the Department of Justice and the Air Corps.
The state-of-the-art EC135, which contains the most up to date surveillance equipment, has still not been commissioned in a dispute over piloting and maintenance.
Labour TD Mr Pat Rabbitte described the situation last night as "bureaucratic bungling" which had deprived the State of a badly needed second helicopter to help in the fight against crime.
Approval for the helicopter was first given five years ago. Tenders were invited and the aircraft ordered.
It was delivered to the UK two years ago to be fitted out with specialised police equipment.
Last November, the Government approved a proposal to contract out the piloting and maintenance of the EC135 for a trial period.
The Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, said in a written Dáil answer that it was decided to avail of the opportunity to "explore other piloting and maintenance arrangements with a view to assessing alternatives in terms of efficiency and cost effectiveness".
An inter-departmental committee was established for this task, he said.
This committee submitted an interim report to the last minister for justice and recommended that the helicopter be commissioned into service on an interim basis on the State Military Register while longer-term options were explored, Mr McDowell stated.
This move was approved by the last government in April. The Air Corps was given responsibility for the piloting of the helicopter, while the maintenance was to be outsourced.
Mr McDowell said the placement process required the manufacturer to provide an audited document trail to the Air Corps.
This, he said was at an advanced stage.
"Upon receipt of responses to a small number of outstanding issues, it will be finalised shortly," he said.
The Minister did not say when the aircraft would be delivered and put into operation.
Last night Mr Rabbitte said air support was now recognised internationally as an essential component of modern policing. "But a sorry chapter of red tape and bureaucratic bungling and Departmental infighting has meant that five years later the helicopter is still not available for use by the gardaí.
"This really is a case where the Minister for Justice needs to intervene and assert his authority and ensure that the helicopter is commissioned for use without further delay."
A Department of Justice spokesman confirmed that the helicopter cost €5 million.