asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he is aware of the necessity for a helicopter service for life saving on the West Coast; and if he will now establish at least one helicopter in Castlebar or Galway.
99.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Helicopter Air-Sea Rescue Service.
98.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether his attention has been drawn to an article entitled "Air-sea Rescue, Blueprint for a Service," of 8th January; whether he has considered the various points put forward in this article in favour of the setting up of an air-sea rescue service with helicopters; whether he intends putting any of these suggestions into practice; and, if not, what the Government's objections are to each of the various suggestions.
100.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if it is a fact that an air-sea rescue service is now in course of preparation; and, if so, if he will supply details of it.
101.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether in view of the further example on 4th December last off the West Coast of the usefulness of helicopters in life-saving he will now provide a helicopter service for life-saving and other purposes.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 98, 99, 100 and 101 together.
I would refer the Deputies to my reply to a number of questions on this subject on the 16th November, 1961.
The adequacy of the rescue facilities is at present being examined in consultation with the other Departments concerned.
The recent bad weather pointed the necessity for protective devices for people whose occupations compel them to use vessels along the Irish coast, and lives have been saved only because of the availability of a helicopter service from the British forces in the Six Counties. Does the Minister not think we have now reached the stage where we should decide to provide our own helicopter service, so as not to be dependent on the magnanimous and generous gestures which the British forces have always made when life is in danger on our seas? Surely something should be done to provide a helicopter service and let us assert our national self-respect.
I have already indicated to the House that we are having an inquiry into this matter again.
With whom is the Minister consulting—other Departments?
Other Departments.
Defence, say?
Yes.
Is there nothing more the Minister can say—no specific proposals?
I am considering whether we are justified in incurring the cost, having regard to the usefulness of the service.
When the provision of this service was considered and rejected, it was by the Department which is now considering the matter again.
It was rejected as a result of a general examination of the whole matter. When it was formerly considered, it was found that for a period of ten years, there was no occasion on which a helicopter service could have been instrumental in saving life. That has been slightly changed in the meantime.
Slightly changed because of the loss of several lives.
The Deputy will recall that we took nearly ten years to consider a new Traffic Act under different Governments.
Is the blueprint for a helicopter service being considered?
That is being considered, too.