I am always striving to improve the level of coverage available on all Irish coasts to ensure it continues to meet both national and international standards for marine search and rescue operations.
While there is already close co-operation between EU member states on marine search and rescue operations, a co-ordinated EU coastguard service financed by the EU would have obvious merits from this country's perspective. There are, however, no firm proposals at present at Euro pean level to develop policies in that direction. Moreover, there are no funds available from the EU to support marine search and rescue services and this subject is not on the agenda of the Intergovernmental Conference.
Major strides have been made in recent years to bring the quality of resources, readiness, training and management up to a level in Ireland that is second to none in Europe at present. The Irish Coastguard, a division of my Department, has contracted two civilian Sikorski S61N search and rescue helicopters, one based in Shannon Airport and the second in Dublin Airport. These helicopters are available on a 24 hours a day, 365 days a year basis for emergency response on any part of the coastline. The Coastguard has 65 full-time staff and more than 600 volunteers. It manages and operates three co-ordination-communication centres at Dublin, Malin Head and Valentia, 12 remote VHF sites, two voice repeater sites and 52 coastal emergency response stations providing shore coverage.
In addition to its own resources, the Irish Coastguard has a number of declared resources available to it on a 24 hour basis all year round. These include two Air Corps search and rescue helicopters based at Finner and Waterford, the RNLI, which has 24 lifeboat stations around the coast, and seven Community Inshore Rescue Service boats based in strategic locations.
Additional Information.It can also call on the Department of Defence naval vessels and divers, the Air Corps fixed wing aircraft, the Garda Síochána and its divers, the British coastguard and all vessels at sea in a marine emergency. In addition, many local volunteer groups, such as sub-aqua clubs, assist in searches and I would like to put on record my appreciation of the work done by all those involved. Stockpiles of anti-pollution equipment are retained for use in the event of an oil pollution incident.
We are constantly assessing the case, based on risk assessment by location, for improving resources. We are also undertaking a major programme of re-equipment and refurbishment of facilities available to Coastguard volunteers and I can assure the House that I am responding positively in all cases where it is made clear to us that the provision of new facilities and the re-equipment and upgrading of existing facilities will add to our capacity to save lives at sea.
