Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 March 2004
12 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Defence the search and rescue bases now maintained and operated by the Air Corps; the role he expects the Air Corps to play in search and rescue operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9271/04]
View answer28 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Defence if a date has been set for the handover of the search and rescue service in the north west from the Air Corps to a private company; if a decision to withdraw the Air Corps is being reconsidered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9268/04]
View answer43 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding search and rescue services on the west and north west coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9345/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 28 and 43 together.
The Irish Coast Guard has overall responsibility for the provision of maritime search and rescue services within the Irish search and rescue region. The Air Corps provides the search and rescue, SAR, service off the north west coast while CHCI, a private operator, provides the service from Dublin, Shannon and Waterford.
Late last year, I announced my decision to withdraw the Air Corps from the search and rescue service. This decision was only made following a considered assessment of the capacity of the Air Corps to return to and maintain a full 24-hour service in the north west. As Deputies will recall, the service had been restricted following an unusually high incidence of sick leave among the winch crews.
There is no plan to reconsider the decision to withdraw from the search and rescue service. The Air Corps would have been unable to return to a full 24-hour service until March 2005. Moreover, the Air Corps operation, because of its small size, would continually be at risk from the loss of small numbers of experienced personnel and this is not acceptable within an emergency life saving operational service. The Air Corps will continue to provide its current limited service, while the coast guard makes alternative arrangements for the return of a full SAR service in the north west. I have been informed by my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources that he expects the new arrangements to be in place by May 2004.
Air Corps pilots will continue to train in search and rescue techniques and it is envisaged that they will provide support in limited non-maritime search and rescue services.
