Vol. 530 No. 4
29 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Defence the equipment modernisation programme of the Air Corps; the equipment to be provided out of the allocation of £55 million; the timescale for the delivery of the equipment; and the details of the equipment including helicopters and other equipment that will be delivered on a phased basis over a three year period. [3995/01]
The Government fully recognises there are urgent equipment modernisation requirements in the Air Corps. In recognition of these requirements, I announced on 1 March last year the allocation 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.
The first indicator of this investment is the current project for the acquisition of medium lift helicopters for the Air Corps. The tender competition for the acquisition of the helicopters is progressing well. This major investment programme involves the acquisition of two medium lift helicopters, with an option of a third, for search and rescue purposes as well as an option for two medium lift helicopters for general purpose military transport.
The tender competition is being carried out in two stages, a request for proposals – RFP – stage and a request for tenders – RFT – stage. Responses for the RFP were received in the Department on 21 September 2000. Six responses were received.
The six responses have been evaluated at this stage and a short list of companies for participation in the RFT stage has been drawn up. The documentation for the RFT stage is almost complete and it is expected it will issue in a matter of days. Following receipt of tenders a comprehensive evaluation process will begin on the proposed helicopters. The evaluation will, of necessity, take some time to complete. It is expected the Department will be in a position to place a contract around the middle of this year.
The responses to the RFP carried a range of possible delivery dates for the proposed helicopters. However, the lead-in time for the delivery of the helicopters is a matter that will have to be discussed with the successful tenderer in due course. I can assure the Deputies that every effort will be made to have the helicopters delivered at the earliest possible dates, while also taking account of the intensive training requirements involved.
There are, of course, other equipment requirements in the Air Corps. A priority is the requirement to acquire fixed wing training aircraft for Air Corps cadets and officers. When proposals are received from the military authorities in relation to this I will arrange for my Department to progress the matter as one of urgency.
The response is similar to that given in December. When does the Minister anticipate the two medium lift helicopters will be delivered if they are ordered in mid 2001? How does the Minister intend filling the vacuum where there is no 24 hour search and rescue service provided in Waterford by the Air Corps? That service has not been provided for the past 18 months. I have already asked the Minister if he envisages entering into some type of leasing arrangement to put that important component in place on the south east coastline. Is the Minister aware that in recent times there has been correspondence with the Department from the representative body of seafarers who are extremely concerned about the lack of service along the south east coast? I am sure the Minister is aware that a person died in recent times off the coast of Wexford and that it was stated locally that if the service was being provided from Waterford his life would have been saved.
The Government works as a unit, but the Deputy will appreciate that search and rescue is primarily a matter for the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources, and that the Department of Defence is an agent in the supply of services. It is a matter which must be urgently addressed. That is why I have made financial provision to ensure we are in a position to purchase as quickly as we can the necessary aircraft to enable us supply those services.
We expect that four companies – Sikorsky from the USA, EH Industries Limited from England, Eurocopter from France and CHC Scotia from Scotland – will be in the tender process. I expect I will have the opportunity, when the final decision is taken about who wins the tender, to engage in negotiations as to what interim arrangements can be made to speed up the time for the supply of the necessary aircraft to enhance the services and to move towards the training and other requirements in the Air Corps, to which I am very committed. The Deputy will appreciate that it is not possible to give an indication of how successful I will be in this before we have a successful tenderer, but I am determined.
Therefore, if contracts are placed in mid-2001 we can anticipate that until mid-2001 it will not be possible for the Department through the Air Corps to provide a 24 hour service in Waterford. In accordance with the strategic report produced by Price Waterhouse for the Department of the Taoiseach in 1998, which referred to Air Corps continuation within the search and rescue service, does the Minister still see the Air Corps as having a pivotal role at Finner and Waterford?
Absolutely, yes.
