Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 February 2021
346. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Defence the amount spent on purchasing specialist fire service vehicles for the Air Corps fire services in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8144/21]
View answerMy priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, is maintained to the greatest extent possible so as to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government.
The Equipment Development Plan (EDP) published in June 2020, completed through extensive joint civil-military work, provides a comprehensive list of planned equipment projects by means of a five-year rolling plan. The EDP builds on the intentions set out in the White Paper in relation to equipment acquisition, modernisation and upgrade and has been developed to ensure that the Defence Forces have the major equipment platforms, ancillary equipment and force protection equipment to carry out their important roles both at home and overseas.
The Defence Forces operate a Crash Rescue Service based at Casement Aerodrome Baldonnel which is required for airfield operations. Details of the amounts spent on contracts awarded from 2019 to date for the renewal of specialist fire service vehicles for the Air Corps are set out in tabular form below:
Tabular Statement: Specialist Fire Service Vehicles for the Air Corps 2019 to 2021
|
Year |
Item |
Company |
Amount Spent Inclusive of VAT |
|
2019 |
4x4 RIFT Scania |
High Precision Motor Products (HPMP) Ltd. |
€332,100 |
|
2020 |
Rosenbauer Panther 6x6 Airport Fire Tenders |
Rosenbauer UK Ltd |
€1,815,000 |
|
2021 (to date) |
N/A |
N/A |
Nil |
A contract was placed in 2019 with High Precision Motor Products (HPMP) Ltd. under an Office of Government Procurement (OGP) Framework Agreement for the supply of a Rapid Intervention Fire Tender (RIFT) at €424,810.20 inclusive of VAT). In 2019 €332,100 (incl. VAT) was paid for the Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS) and gantry ladders associated with the fire tender. The remaining sum of €92,710.20 (incl. VAT) will be paid on delivery of the RIFT which is expected in March 2021. The delivery into service of the RIFT vehicle will augment the existing capability of the Air Corps Fire and Rescue Service at Casement Aerodrome Baldonnel.
In 2020 following an open tender competition a contract was awarded to Rosenbauer UK Ltd. for the supply of two (2) new Rosenbauer Panther 6x6 Airport Fire Tenders, due to be delivered by end of February 2021 to replace existing aging Airport 6x6 Fire Tenders. The total cost of these vehicles is €2.35m inclusive of VAT.
The expected service life of these types of appliances is 15-20 years. I am satisfied that, with these new acquisitions and the planning for future procurements, the Defence Forces continue to have the necessary modern and effective range of equipment available to them in order to fulfil all roles assigned to them by Government.
