The Defence Minister Simon Coveney says he has not yet made a decision about replacing the government jet.

The GulfStream jet has been stranded in the US since the end of July after problems were discovered during its annual service.

The jet is 23 years old and it is thought that it could cost €4m to replace the jet with another plane of the same age.

Mr Coveney says no decision has been made on whether the jet should be replaced, and it now looks like the budget next month will decide its fate.