Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 November 2018
919. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has examined the potential of the Air Corps being redeployed to provide helicopter support services for the Irish Coast Guard; and if he will request a business case or cost benefit analysis to examine this potential. [45371/18]
View answerThe Irish Coast Guard (IRCG), a Division of my Department, discharges the State’s responsibility for Maritime Search & Rescue (SAR), counter pollution and salvage operations, maritime assistance and vessel traffic management information system (VTMIS) services and safety awareness. A Service Level Agreement between the Department of Defence and the Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) for the provision of services by the Defence Forces to the IRCG lays out the scope and the provision of services and was signed in August 2013. The SLA is scheduled to be reviewed in the coming months. The Air Corps provides services to the Irish Coast Guard as set out in Annex II of this agreement. At the request of the IRCG, the Air Corps rotary wing, on an as available basis, may provide assistance as follows:-
- SAR search support;
- On-scene air Co-ordinator
- Island Medevacs and mountain rescues when the IRCG helicopters are unable to respond;
- Maritime surveillance;
- Partake in joint training exercises as required e.g. annual IRCG training exercises with Mountain Rescue Teams; and
- Technical advice as appropriate.
In 2018 so far the IRCG has received support in the form of 5 surveillance flights, 1 top cover flight and 1 SAR flight from Air Corps fixed wing assets. No rotary flights were required. The Defence Forces at all times retain overall responsibility for the tasking and deployment of their respective assets. Any future re-deployment of Air Corps assets will be a matter for the Minister of Defence to consider.
