The Garda Air Support Unit's operating costs are running "far in excess of what was envisaged" when it was established four years ago, the Comptroller & Auditor General has warned.
His annual report said an inter-departmental working group estimated that total operating costs for the unit for the period 1996-2000 would be £1.17 million. An audit last year, however, put operational expenditure for the period 1997-2000 at £7.25 million, more than six times the estimate.
The C&AG cited cost overruns, particularly in the areas of repairs, maintenance and fuel.
He said split responsibility for the operation of the unit between the Garda Siochβna and the Air Corps had "impacted adversely on its financial management". This division in roles had also "not been conducive to the effective and efficient delivery of the service".
The unit (GASU) has been operational out of Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, since 1997 with a twin-engine helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft.
The C&AG said the cost-effectiveness of the service had been affected by the suspension of night-flying in September 1999 due to an air traffic accident in Co Clare. Full coverage by the helicopter has not been achieved since then because of a failure to introduce relevant training, the report said.
"Overall," it said, "the integration of training and operational needs does not appear to have been managed effectively to date."
The C&AG criticised delays in the delivery of a second Garda helicopter, the purchase of which was approved in November 1998. Tenders were initially sought for an AS 355 model, like the existing Garda helicopter. However, a technical committee, which included a representative of the Air Corps, recommended the purchase of an EC 135 instead on the grounds that it was quieter and more versatile.
After a contract was signed for the purchase of the latter, a disagreement arose between the Air Corps and the Garda on the need for certain features, such as an autopilot. The General Officer Commanding the Air Corps said the EC 135 was "not the most suitable aircraft" for GASU operations and the purchase should be discontinued in favour of a second AS 355.
The C&AG said: "The Air Corps put forward serious cost and operational implications of having two different types of helicopter after the contract for the second helicopter was entered into."
He said the estimated cost of the EC 135 now stood at £4 million. This compared to an original estimate of £2.54 million.
