The cost to the Irish Air Corps for providing the helicopter assistance at wildfires in Cloosh Valley, Co Galway, and the Ox Mountains, Co Sligo, this year was €46,247.31.

A Department of Defence spokesperson told the Irish Farmers Journal that about 35,000 litres of water were dropped in the Ox Mountains on 6 May 2017 and approximately 144,000 litres were dropped in the Cloosh Valley from 9-10 May 2017 to combat wildfires.

Both the army and the air corps were drafted in to provide assistance to the emergency services fighting gorse and forest fires in both counties in May 2017.

Bambi bucket

The air corps provided an AW 139 helicopter fitted with a bambi bucket on 6, 9 and 10 May.

This can deliver water quickly and accurately and is particularly useful when dealing with fires in remote areas, the spokesperson said.

Another helicopter also assisted with reconnaissance for the fire-fighting operation in the Cloosh Valley on 9 and 10 May.

Almost 50 Defence Forces personnel were also deployed from Renmore Barracks, Co Galway, to assist with fire-fighting efforts in Oughterard Co Galway.