Derek McDowell
Question:107 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Defence the timetable for the proposed replacement programme of helicopter and fixed wing aircraft for the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8804/00]
Written Answers. - Defence Forces Equipment.
Monica Barnes
Question:145 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for Defence the plans, if any, he has to provide the Air Corps with appropriate aircraft to carry out search and rescue on the east and west coasts; the timetable envisaged; the future arrangements between the Department of the Marine and his Department for search and rescue missions; and if a company (details supplied) or the Air Corps will provide this service. [8841/00]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:207 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which it is proposed to modernise aircraft and equipment in the Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9154/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 107, 145 and 207 together.
The Irish Coast Guard of the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources has overall responsibility for the provision of a marine search and rescue service. The Air Corps provides a search and rescue service from Finner, County Donegal, and Waterford Regional Airport as part of the overall search and rescue arrangements.
Bond Helicopters provide a search and rescue service, using medium lift helicopters, from Shannon and Dublin Airports under contract to the Irish Coast Guard. The service operating from Dublin Airport commenced on 1 July 1998, prior to which the Air Corps provided search and rescue coverage on the east coast. It had been intended that the new service would be crewed by Air Corps personnel and would operate from Casement Aerodrome once certain legal difficulties concerning the question of the basing of a civil operation at a military airbase had been resolved. This latter element is being pursued with the Department of Public Enterprise and the Irish Aviation Authority.
The high incidence of retirement of Air Corps flying officers in recent years meant that the Air Corps was not in a position to provide pilots for the new service. Provision was, however, made in the contract with the operator for the introduction of Air Corps crew at a future date. The new service is currently operating from Dublin Airport with the option of re-locating to Baldonnel at a future date.
The White Paper on Defence, which was approved by Government on Tuesday, 29 February 2000, provides for significant new investment in the Air Corps. The White Paper accepts the Price Waterhouse review of the Air Corps as the basis for the development of that service. The Government's policy is that the Air Corps will be heavily involved in providing services to agencies outside the Defence Forces, the most important of which is the Irish Coast Guard. The extent and nature of these services will, of necessity, be a determinant of the type of aircraft to be provided for the Air Corps.
Following the publication of the White Paper and in recognition of the urgent equipment modernisation requirements of the Air Corps, I was pleased to announce on 1 March, 2000 the allocation of a total of up to £55 million over the next three years for this purpose. These funds will initiate vital investment in new aircraft for the Air Corps under the direction of the High Level Civil-Military Planning and Procurement Group which, as indicated in the White Paper, will be tasked with the development of a new plan to address Defence Forces' equipment needs over a five-year timeframe.
The General Officer Commanding the Air Corps warmly welcomed the news of this new investment. He has been asked to draw up the full technical specification documents which will be necessary for commencement of the procurement process in relation to two new medium range helicopters and a further helicopter mainly for the training of pilots for the Garda air support unit. This work is under way in the Air Corps and a joint civil-military project team will be set up in due course to organise and oversee the procurement process. Acquisition of appropriate fixed-wing aircraft will be considered by the planning and procurement group. In the meantime the recommendations of the General Officer Commanding the Air Corps as regards essential training needs in order to meet current operational requirements have been requested for consideration in my Department.