Cost of botched Chad helicopter deal hits €4.3m

AN alarming €3 million bill for taxpayers for the lease of two helicopters in Chad that were unable to carry troops has now shot up to €4.3m, the Irish Examiner has learnt.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is to seek answers as to why the botched helicopter contract for the African peacekeeping mission has soared.

The head of the Department of Defence, Michael Howard, attended a PAC meeting last month at which the State’s spending watchdog John Buckley said the contract cost €3m.