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]
Vol. 516 No. 6
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]
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]
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.