BERTIE Ahern racked up a bill of €67,000 for 35 hours of helicopter travel in just over three years, new figures show.

As Taoiseach he spent 2,100 minutes in Air Corp-provided choppers between February 2005 and April last year, information obtained by Fine Gael's Lucinda Creighton reveals.

Mr Ahern undertook a total of 31 trips in the period -- an average of a journey every 1.3 months.

In contrast, Taoiseach Brian Cowen used the service just five times between May, 2008 -- when he took over from Mr Ahern -- and September this year.

This works out at a helicopter journey every three months.

Defence Minister Willie O'Dea, who provided the aircraf data for Ms Creighton, pointed out that much of the costs are associated with having the aircraft and would arise whether or not they are used for ministerial travel.

Mr O'Dea provided a list of the number of times the helicopters were used by ministers between 2005 and September this year.

Overall, ministers undertook 115 trips on the aircraft in the time under review.

The Air Corps helicopter fleet comprises two light-utility EC135 helicopters, which cost €1,590 an hour to run, and six utility AW139 helicopters, which cost €3,130 an hour.

Waste

Ms Creighton described the use of the service as a "wanton waste of public money and Defence Force time and expertise".

"While the sight of their developer friends making their way to the Galway races by helicopter was a common sight, it now turns out that the Fianna Fail Ministers were also leading the high life, at our expense," she added.

Mr O'Dea said the helicopters are for "ministerial air transport in situations where, for operational reasons, fixed wing aircraft may not be available" or "the point of destination may not be close to an airport".

He added: "In 2008, ministerial transport represented approximately 5pc of total helicopter flying hours.

"Approval for the use of Air Corps helicopters for ministerial transport is a matter for An Taoiseach, providing the helicopters are available and have not been otherwise tasked in their military role."

Figures released last week showed the Air Corps has provided €210,796 worth of helicopter transport to Government ministers since the last general election.

Mr O'Dea used the Air Corp helicopters 10 times between May, 2007, and September this year.

hnews@herald.ie

- Cormac Murphy