Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Apr 1998

Vol. 489 No. 7

Written Answers. - Marine Rescue Service.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

27 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Defence the steps, if any, he will take to ensure that the Air Corps has enough personnel to staff marine rescue services; and the position on the development of the east coast rescue service and the new services being developed in the Navy in association with the Department of Marine and Natural Resources to protect our fisheries. [9041/98]

Gerry Reynolds

Question:

32 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Defence the discussions, if any, he has had with the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources in relation to the locating of the marine rescue service for the east coast at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, County Dublin. [9285/98]

Seymour Crawford

Question:

36 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Defence the steps, if any, he will take to ensure that the Air Corps has enough personnel to staff marine rescue services; and the position on the development of the east coast rescue service and the new services being developed in the Navy in association with the Department of Marine and Natural Resources to protect our fisheries. [9045/98]

Deirdre Clune

Question:

39 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Defence the steps, if any, he will take to ensure that the Air Corps has enough personnel to staff marine rescue services; and the position on the development of the east coast rescue service and the new services being developed in the Navy in association with the Department of Marine and Natural Resources to protect our fisheries. [9039/98]

Paul Connaughton

Question:

53 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Defence the steps, if any, he will take to ensure that the Air Corps has enough personnel to staff marine rescue services in this country; and the position on the development of the east coast rescue service and the new services being developed in the Navy in association with the Department of Marine and Natural Resources to protect our fisheries. [9042/98]

Deirdre Clune

Question:

54 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Defence the steps, if any, he will take to ensure that the Air Corps has enough personnel to staff marine rescue services in this country; and the position on the development of the east coast rescue service and the new services being developed in the Navy in association with the Department of Marine and Natural Resources to protect our fisheries. [9040/98]

Michael Creed

Question:

79 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Defence his views on whether private companies or the Air Corps should staff the marine rescue service in this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9047/98]

Seymour Crawford

Question:

95 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Defence the steps, if any, he will take to ensure that the Air Corps has enough personnel to staff marine rescue services; and the position on the development of the east ccoast rescue service and the new services being developed in the Navy in association with the Department of Marine and Natural Resources to protect our fisheries. [9046/98]

Michael Joe Cosgrave

Question:

108 Mr. Cosgrave asked the Minister for Defence the steps, if any, he will take to ensure that the Air Corps has enough personnel to staff marine rescue services in this country; and the position on the development of the east coast rescue service and the new services being developed in the Navy in association with the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources to protect our fisheries. [9043/98]

Gerry Reynolds

Question:

112 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Defence the discussions, if any, he has had with the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources in relation to the locating of the marine rescue service for the east coast at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, County Dublin. [9286/98]

Michael Joe Cosgrave

Question:

131 Mr. Cosgrave asked the Minister for Defence the steps, if any, he will take to ensure that the Air Corps has enough personnel to staff marine rescue services in this country; and the position on the development of the east coast rescue service and the new services being developed in the Navy in association with the Department of Marine and Natural Resources to protect our fisheries. [9044/98]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 to 131 together.

The Irish Marine Emergency Service, IMES, of the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources has overall responsibility for the provision of a marine search and rescue service. The arrangements necessary for the provision of the service are, therefore, a matter for that Department.

Search and rescue coverage on the east coast is provided by the Air Corps from Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel and on the north west coast from Finner, County Donegal, in addition to the civilian operated search and rescue service being provided at Shannon.

As part of an ongoing programme of development of search and rescue services, a civilian operated medium-load carrying search and rescue helicopter is to be provided on the east coast with effect from 1 July 1998. The service will operate on a temporary basis from Dublin Airport but will be located at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, when certain legal difficulties concerning the question of the basing of a civil operation at a military airbase have been resolved. My Department is pursuing this aspect with the Department of Public Enterprise.

In tandem with the commencement of this service on the east coast, the search and rescue service currently provided by the Air Corps at Baldonnel will be relocated to the south east coast. This service, which will initially be restricted to daylight hours, utilising an Alouette helicopter, will be based in Waterford. It is intended to upgrade this service to a 24 one using a Dauphin helicopter at the earliest possible date.

The high incidence of retirement of Air Corps flying officers in recent years has meant that the Air Corps is currently not in a position to provide pilots for the east coast service, as was origionally intended. Provision is, however, being made in the contract for the provision of the service for the introduction of Air Corps crew at a future date.

The service commitment scheme for Air Corps pilots introduced by my Department last year with the ongoing training of pilots and the yearly recruitment of Air Corps cadets is intended to ensure a continuing supply of well trained pilots for the Air Corps.

With regard to the question of the protection of our fisheries, I presume the reference is to the recent allegations of harassment of Irish fishing vessels off the south-west coast. In this regard my colleague, the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, and I recently discussed the putting in place of new arrangements to ensure a swift response to such incidents. I will also be dealing with this matter in my reply to Questions Nos. 70, 73 and 97 tabled by Deputies Perry, Mitchell and Gilmore.