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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 29 Nov 1988

Vol. 384 No. 8

Written Answers. - Helicopter Deployment.

38.

asked the Minister for the Marine the reason for the delay in deciding on the recommendations in the inter-Departmental Committee on Marine Search and Rescue Services; and if it is proposed to re-locate the helicopter search and rescue service in the west of Ireland referred to in his reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 5, 8, 20 and 29 on 25 October, 1988.

The Inter-Departmental Committee on the Deployment of Search and Rescue Helicopters was established in June of this year to consider the implications of and to make recommendations as regards the deployment of search and rescue helicopters. The inter-departmental committee reported to the Minister for Defence and myself in October. Because of the complexities of the issues involved copies of the report were immediately circulated to all Cabinet members in order to give ample opportunity for consideration prior to the matter being formally presented to Government.

Before any recommendations were submitted to the Government in relation to the deployment of search and rescue helicopters, I was also anxious to receive the advice of the Irish Marine Search and Rescue Committee whose general function is to review and co-ordinate on a continuing basis marine search and rescue arrangements by reference to the facilities provided by each component organisation on the committee. This committee considered the question of SAR helicopter deployment at its meeting on 27 October and in addition examined in detail the recommendations of the West Coast Search and Rescue and Action Committee.

With the advice of all the relevant interests secured, including that which has emanated from the West Coast and Rescue and Action Committee, the inter-departmental committee and the Irish Marine Search and Rescue Committee, a memorandum on West Coast Helicopter Search and Rescue Helicopter services has now been circulated to all relevant Government Departments. This memorandum, which sets out various options aimed at improving search and rescue helicopter coverage off the west coast, will be formally presented to Government when these Departments have forwarded their observations.

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