Jimmy Deenihan
Question:23 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Defence his views on the Air Corps providing a permanent search and rescue facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38142/06]
View answerThursday, 16 November 2006
Questions (33, 34)
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:227 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the strength of the air sea rescue services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38433/06]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 227.
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 had been providing Search and Rescue (SAR) services in the North West but withdrew in October 2004 following a handover of this role to CHCI, a private operator, which also provides the service at the country's other SAR bases at Dublin, Shannon and Waterford. There is no plan to reconsider the decision to withdraw the Air Corps from the maritime Search and Rescue Service.
The Defence Forces are committed to providing support to the civil authorities specifically in relation to Search and Rescue. In this regard, the Naval Service and the Air Corps will continue to provide support to the Coast Guard as the need arises and within their available capacity. Air Corps pilots will continue to train in search and rescue techniques and to provide a limited non-maritime search and rescue response. The specification for the new helicopters being acquired for the Air Corps includes a search and rescue capability.
Search and rescue capability requires a wide range of available skills, such as piloting, winching, medical, vessel crewing and radar. I am advised by the military authorities that the availability of these skills within the Defence Forces is sufficient to meet their continuing commitments in this area.
The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 sets out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force all ranks comprising 930 for the Air Corps, 1,444 for the Naval Service and 8,426 for the Army. There are no proposals to increase the strength of the Permanent Defence Force above the White Paper figure of 10,500. Recruitment into the Permanent Defence Force will continue to maintain the strength at the approved level.