Vol. 438 No. 6
33 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for the Marine the personnel engaged in compiling the report which media reports indicate is presently being conducted by his Department and the Department of Defence into the future of Ireland's medium range search and rescue helicopter; and the terms of reference of the report.
The existing contract for the provision of a medium range search and rescue helicopter service based at Shannon was placed with Irish Helicopters Ltd. by the Department in June 1991 following Government approval. This contract runs until the end of 1996. Performance to date has fully lived up to expectations as demonstrated in the statistics which I recently published. Since 1991 the Department helicopter has carried out over 300 missions and has saved over 200 lives.
The Government also decided in 1991 that the feasibility of operating a medium range helicopter service by the Air Corps from 1997 should be fully examined and costed. That option is currently being evaluated from all cost-benefit and other relevant perspectives by the Department of Defence with the full participation of the Department of the Marine. I expect to receive the report on the outcome of this assessment in a matter of months. In considering all the options available for meeting our future search and rescue helicopter needs my objective is to deliver the highest achievable standards of reliability, quality and level of rescue service while ensuring the best value for State resources.
I thank the Minister for his reply. Is the future location for such a service up for discussion, and if so will the Minister inform the House of the alternative location being discussed?
The matter is being examined. When that information becomes available I will let the Deputy have a note of it.
