Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Jan 1997

Vol. 473 No. 4

Written Answers. - Helicopter Rescue Service.

John O'Donoghue

Question:

602 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the Minister for the Marine whether the Helicopter Rescue Service operating off Kerry Head on the night of Friday, 10 January 1997, was adequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1410/97]

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Barrett)

I am fully satisfied that the helicopter cover off Kerry Head on the night of Friday, 10 January 1997 was adequate.

The Irish Marine Emergency Service (IMES) of my Department is the co-ordinating authority for marine emergency response in Ireland and has helicopters available for tasking at three bases, Shannon Airport, Finner Army Camp and Casement Air base, Baldonnel. These helicopters can and are tasked individually or collectively to any area as required.

On the night of 10 January 1997 the three helicopters were available. However, the IMES helicopter presently at Shannon is not yet fitted with an auto-hover system which allows the helicopter to automatically come to a hover over a vessel. The absence of an auto-hover makes winching from a small vessel at night difficult but not impossible. Otherwise the IMES helicopter is fully equipped for 24 hour marine emergency response.

Helicopters are just one of a range of resources available for marine emergency response around our coast. We have excellent cover from the first class resources of the fast, purpose-built lifeboats of the RNLI, the rescue boats of the Community Inshore Rescue Service and the IMES Coastal Units.

I presume the Deputy's question is prompted by an incident 30 nautical miles north west of Loop Head on the night of the 8-9 January 1997. In this incident a crewman on a fishing vessel was injured, losing the tip of his finger. The vessel was put in contact with a doctor who advised that the crewman should be evacuated. Consideration was given to use the helicopters and/or the lifeboats for the evacuation. He was evacuated by the RNLI lifeboat from Fenit.

Under the terms of the current contract for the IMES helicopter at Shannon a fully equipped Sikorsky S61N helicopter incorporating an auto-hover system must be operational before 28 February 1997.