Frances Fitzgerald
Question:6 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence if the Air Corps has the capacity to provide pilots for the new east coast medium search and rescue service. [18237/97]
Written Answers - Marine Rescue Service.
A review group established to examine the adequacy of the marine search and rescue coverage of the east coast presented its report to the then Minister for the Marine in June 1996. The group recommended that a medium load carrying marine emergency helicopter be provided to service the east coast. At present, search and rescue coverage on the east coast is provided by the Air Corps from Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel. The group also recommended that the service currently provided by the Air Corps be relocated to a location on the south-south-east coast once the medium load carrying helicopter service is in operation. The decision to proceed with this project demonstrates the Government's commitment to the provision of modern facilities in this most important area of safety.
The new helicopter will be civilian registered and will be accountable under contract to the Irish Marine Emergency Service, IMES, of the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources. It is proposed that a number of Air Corps crew members will be assigned to the service following a period of relevant training which will be provided by the contractor. The new service will operate on a temporary basis from Dublin Airport, but will be located at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel once certain legal difficulties concerning the question of the basing of a civil operation at a military airbase have been resolved.
The present position is that a tender competition for the delivery of the service has been held by the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources. Tenders are currently being evaluated and that Department expects to place a contract for the service shortly. It is intended that the service will commence in July 1998.
It is proposed to assign two Air Corps first pilots and three co-pilots to commence training in early 1998. The contract will also provide for the training of additional Air Corps pilots as necessary.