asked the Minister for the Marine if his attention has been drawn to any proposals by the British Government to privatise air-sea rescue operations; if he has considered the potential consequences particularly with regard to the extensive and isolated coastline of western Ireland; if he has had any discussions with his British counterpart about this; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers - Air-Sea Rescue Operations.
135.
I understand that the British Government are currently studying a proposal from a private helicopter company under which the UK military search and rescue service would be put out to civilian contract and that this proposal is being considered by the UK Government in the context of a review of the deployment of UK search and rescue helicopters generally. I understand that privatisation of services as such is not under consideration, rather the proposal in question is for a contracting out of certain services. This, of course, is purely an internal matter for the British Government, and I am satisfied that, should their eventual decision have implications for Irish search and rescue operations, there will be ample opportunity to discuss such implications with the UK authorities with a view to any necessary revision of existing arrangements.
It is expected that the Air Corps Dauphin helicopters will be fully operational on a 24 hour basis by the end of 1988 and this will greatly reduce the dependence of the UK services.
136.
asked the Minister for the Marine the number of occasions in the past five years when assistance was given by the British Government in air-sea rescue operations off the Irish coast; the type of involvement on each such occasion; and the cost to the Irish Government arising from same.
Royal Air Force and Royal Navy aircraft have been involved in search and rescue operations in Ireland's region of responsibility on the following number of occasions over the last five years: 1983—70, 1984—20, 1985—93, 1986—61, 1987—50.
This assistance has been provided free of charge.