asked the Minister for the Marine if he will outline proposed improvements in the search and rescue facilities on the west coast of Ireland.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Search and Rescue Facilities.
2.
The Marine Rescue Co-Ordination Centre (MRCC) is responsible for the reception and dissemination of information relating to marine distress signals originating in the sea areas covered by the centre and for the co-ordination of marine rescue measures in these areas. The centre is located at Shannon Airport and is operated on a 24-hour basis by the Department of Tourism and Transport's air traffic services.
The system of marine search and rescue in the State involves a number of rescue agencies including the Naval Service, the Air Corps, the coast life saving service, the coast radio stations, a number of port installations, the Garda Síochána and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. The MRCC can also ask for assistance when needed from the British Navy, the RAF and the British coast radio stations. In addition, shipping in the vicinity of a casualty, and in a position to assist, can be called upon by the centre.
As far as the west coast is concerned, the RNLI have lifeboat stations at Arranmore, County Donegal, Galway Bay and Valentia, County Kerry. The effective range of these three stations has been doubled in recent years by the installation of fast modern craft. The institution is carrying out trials at two new inshore lifeboat stations at Clifden and Lough Swilly. The institution have plans for two more inshore stations on the west coast. The RNLI are at present undertaking a comprehensive review of their Irish service and the results will be available later this year.
Fifteen of our 54 coast life saving service stations are located on the west coast, from Waterville on the south-west coast to Greencastle on the north-west coast. All the CLSS stations have been progressively modernised in recent times and a programme has been undertaken which will provide each station with up-to-date rescue and communications equipment and train the volunteers in their use.
The Naval Service and Air Corps also provide assistance when requested to do so. Three of the five Dauphin helicopters will be devoted exclusively to search and rescue operations and these are expected to have a 24-hour capability by the end of the year. There have been particular problems with the deployment of Dauphin helicopters. With my colleague, the Minister for Defence, and the Minister, I am currently addressing the problem so that the maximum use may be gained from our resources in the context of marine search and rescue through the properly planned deployment of our helicopters.
The maritime VHF network is being extended. At present the stations at Crockalough and Glencolumbkille in County Donegal, at Ballybunion and Kilkeaveragh in County Kerry and at Knockgour in County Cork, cover all the west coast with the exception of the area between Slyne Head in County Galway and Eagle Island in County Mayo. By the end of this year, however, this gap will have been substantially reduced by the opening of a station at Belmullet, County Mayo and full VHF cover is expected in 1989.
As a result the 24-hour listening watch on the VHF emergency channel provided by coast radio station staff will be extended to all parts of the west coast. This will enable all boats fitted with VHF radio to make contact in an emergency. Such a listening watch is already provided on the medium frequency emergency channel throughout the area.
I recognise that the search and rescue infrastructure on the west coast is not as developed as on the south and east coasts. I have received representations on this question from concerned individuals and groups. I am having the situation examined urgently by my officials. In addition, the Irish Marine Search and Rescue Committee, who represent the search and rescue agencies as well as fishermen and yachtsmen, are reviewing the search and rescue arrangements off the west coast and will report to me in the autumn of this year.
I am very disappointed with the Minister's answer and the lack of any positive indication of action particularly regarding rescue facilities and the location of helicopter services to provide ambulance emergency services for our seagoing——
I am awaiting a question.
——fishermen etc. May I ask the Minister if the Dauphin helicopters, to which he referred, have a radius of only about 110 miles or 120 miles? Being located in Baldonnel is it not impossible for them to fly direct to effect a successful sea rescue? When one takes into account that some of our large fishing vessels could be fishing 100 miles, or even further, off the west coast we are leaving our fishing personnel at the mercy of the elements because there is no adequate facility to rescue them in the event of tragedy and that this is a retro-grade——
This is becoming a very long question.
I should like to ask the Minister also if it is true that the marine rescue co-ordination centre, to which he referred, as reported in newspapers, have no VHF medium frequency radio, that they have no scanner for calls but possess a deficient radio monitor and a non-efficient fax machine, a telex machine with no trained operator and four——
It is clear to the Chair that the Deputy is embarking upon a speech.
I am sorry, but the Minister gave a very long reply.
That may be so, but this is Question Time. I have no control over the Minister's replies but I do have control over questions.
Like the Sea King, or any other helicopter, there is a limit but these helicopters were bought some five years ago. Certainly there are limitations to the radius over which they can operate. Discussions are taking place at present. I attended, with a number of other Deputies, a meeting which was called in Killybegs when we met with the west coast search and rescue action committee. I appreciate that it was difficult for all Deputies from the west coast to get there because of the distance. However, three of us from the west coast were present, Deputy Denis Gallagher and my constituency colleague, Deputy Coughlan. There were apologies from others. There was an opportunity last week for a full briefing. It was important for people like myself and, indeed, other interested Deputies to have attended that briefing. Indeed, it is ironic——
Is that a reply to my question?
It is indicating the interest. It is ironic that there were representatives in Setanta House from all parties in the House except from the Progressive Democrats. In answer to the Deputy's question, we have had discussions in Killybegs and in Dublin. As I said in my reply, we are having discussions with both the Minister, Deputy Daly, and the Minister for Defence and it is hoped to meet with the west coast search and rescue action committee immediately their report is available. With reference to the allegation that the only means of communication for the MRCC is the coast radio stations to determine the precise details of an incident, using two-finger typing as no telex operator is there, that is not true. The coast stations do not have to wait for confirmation in writing. They act immediately they get a telephone call, but it is normal to send the details by telex afterwards. Once a person is in distress all commercial communications cease at the coast radio station and a call can be made linking the vessel with the MRCC. The only reason a delay would occur would be that a vessel in distress is already in communication with another rescue unit or vessel. If there was direct contact and it was in communication with another vessel one still could not get through at that stage.
Before any Deputies intervence, we have made very little progress at Question Time today. It has taken over 20 minutes to deal with two questions which have not even been disposed of as yet. This is unfair to other Members with other questions on the Order Paper. I ask you for your co-operation in being brief and relevant.
Do the Government propose locating helicopters in the west in order to effect immediate rescue facilities in the event of a tragedy at sea? Will the Minister agree that the Dauphin helicopters which are based at Baldonnel are allegedly unable to fly over land in icy conditions because they have not got deicing facilities?
They would be a matter for the Minister for Defence to take a decision. I said in my reply that this question is being addressed currently so that the maximum use can be gained from our resources in the context of marine search and rescue through the properly planned development of our helicopter service. I do not want to pre-empt any decisions that will be taken as a result of meetings with the West Coast Search and Rescue Action Committee. I want to put on record my admiration for this committee and their responsible and professional approach to this question. We will be meeting with them in the near future and I do not want to pre-empt any decisions that may be taken by the Minister for the Marine and the Minister for Defence and eventually by the Government. I understand there are problems in relation to icy conditions when travelling across the country. I appreciate fully the necessity for search and rescue particularly off our west coast when we are so far removed from the east coast which, of course, is quite near the west coast of the UK. All these factors will be taken into consideration before a final decision is taken.
The question before us asks the Minister to outline proposed improvements in search and rescue. The Minister in his reply was long on detail on the present inadequate situation but very short on proposed improvements and it is the improvements we want to hear about. Apart from admiring the West Coast Search and Rescue Committee, does the Minister accept the case they have made for the location of Dauphins on the west coast? Has he or his colleague, Deputy Daly, any intention of bringing to this House the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue to be ratified? If so, when? Does he intend to invest in up-to-date technology which is urgently required at the MRCC? We need answers to those three questions.
With due respect to the Deputy, I do not think the West Coast Search and Rescue Action Committee would even expect an answer at this stage. They have been professional and responsible about it. They want to discuss it with us, and then we will be in a better position to answer the question. I would like to put on record that this year, despite the constraints, the one area where there are absolutely no cutbacks is in the purchase of equipment. There is expenditure of some £700,000 there and I hope by 1989 we will have a VHF service right around the coast. We are fully aware of the problems and the Government's commitment to the £700,000 this year is an indication of how seriously we treat this problem.
I have one very brief question. The Minister in the course of his reply initially suggested that the night time or 24-hour service of the Dauphin helicopter would not be in place until the end of the year. That is at variance with what the Minister for Defence has been telling us. He expected it to be in place at mid-summer. Is there now further delay in this?
There are no pilots left. They are all leaving. How can they fly them?
I am being somewhat conservative——
(Interruptions.)
——when I say this because I do not have that responsibility and I cannot answer questions for that Minister. I know they have been flying at night already but when I say "at the end of this year" I mean that is when all of them will be able to carry out their rescue operations. Some night missions have taken place but I am not responsible for that Department. I am being conservative when I say that.
Could the Minister clarify that with the Department of Defence?
My Minister and I have discussed this over the past number of weeks and next month I hope to visit Malin Head, Valentia and Shannon to establish at first-hand the precise problems there. I would like to have discussions with the officials, even though they are in the Department of Tourism and Transport, face-to-face rather than through the media.
Again, I ask the House, please, both sides of the House——
What about being——
Deputy Molloy, I was going to ask for the co-operation of the Members in making more progress at Question Time, and this request goes to both sides of the House. Two questions in over 25 minutes is totally unsatisfactory.
(Interruptions.)