Darren O'Rourke
Question:449. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport when the new search and rescue helicopter contract will be put out to tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20777/21]
View answerWednesday, 21 April 2021
Questions (449, 451, 452, 453)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:451. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if the new search and rescue helicopter contract will consider a mixed approach to service delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20779/21]
View answerDarren O'Rourke
Question:452. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if he has received a submission from the Air Corps in relation to providing services for the search and rescue helicopter contract; if this has been considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20780/21]
View answerDarren O'Rourke
Question:453. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number of times the search and rescue aviation steering group that have met since its inception; the number of members of the steering group; the Department or agency which they represent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20781/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 449 and 451 to 453, inclusive, together.
In November 2019 the Department of Transport commenced a process to prepare for the next iteration of the Coast Guard Aviation service. This is an on-going deliberative process which will ultimately lead to a Government decision. The current status of the procurement process can be referenced in the Published eTenders update on eTenders and our SAR Webpage
As a first step in the Public Spending Code process, a Strategic Assessment and Preliminary Appraisal was prepared by the Department’s Strategic Research and Analysis Division in close consultation with the Steering Group and in line with so-called “Gate 0” of the Public Spending Code. Having been agreed by the Steering Group, this went to Government for information in July.
This appraisal included a strategic assessment which also included an appraisal of various service delivery options.
A Steering Group chaired by the Director of the Irish Coast Guard was established in 2019 to manage this process with a view to ensuring the next service meets domestic and international obligations for search and rescue and represents value for money for the State. The Steering Group comprises Irish Coast Guard/Department of Transport staff and relevant key stakeholders and appropriate necessary expertise. All members of the Steering Group are required to sign a Conflict of Interest declaration and agree the terms of a Communications Protocol.
The members of the Steering Group include representatives nominated from the following: Department of Health/HSE, Department of Justice/An Garda Siochána, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and Irish Aviation Authority. Aviation Expertise and a Financial & Economic Consultant are also available. A Procurement Advisor (Process Auditor) was appointed in early 2020 to independently observe the procurement process to ensure that the procurement principles and rules are met at every stage of the process. Department of Defence/Aer Corps were previous members but have since been recused since submitting a proposal in February 2020 for an element of the SAR Aviation Service .
Since its inception the Steering Group have met on four occasions; November 2019, February 2020, June 2020 and October 2020 with a further meeting due in Q2, 2021.
It is our intent to publish Tender documents later in 2021.