Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2021
233. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact the Irish citizens that are also Irish taxpayers have provided civilian search and rescue to the Irish Coast Guard for over 20 years and if he were to accept the submission of the Irish Air Corps as publicly reported, then these same Irish citizens would suffer redundancy. [25538/21]
View answer234. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport if he has received the unredacted version of the Air Corps submission on the provision of military search and rescue to the State in March 2021. [25539/21]
View answer235. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport the process he deployed in rigorously evaluating the Air Corps submission on the provision of military search and rescue service to the State in March 2021; and the recommendations of that evaluation if an evaluation process was used. [25540/21]
View answer236. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to amend the current policy on the provision of search and rescue services from a single provider to more than one provider; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25541/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 233 to 236, inclusive, together.
The current helicopter service contract between the then Minister for Transport and CHC Ireland DAC commenced on 1st July 2012 for a period of 10 years. It contains an option to extend for a period(s) up to a further 3 years. The contract has been extended initially for one year to July 2023 to facilitate the procurement of a new service in accordance with Public Spending Code requirements and a seamless transition from one service to another.
In November 2019 the Department of Transport commenced a process to prepare for the next iteration of the Coast Guard Aviation service. This involved an extensive consultation process with all key State and other SAR stakeholders to consider the scope and demand for the service over the lifetime of a new contract.
An initial report was brought to Government in July last, following approval by a Steering Group of State stakeholders. This report included a strategic assessment, setting out the context for the SAR aviation programme, an organisational overview, and a survey of existing policies and strategies relevant to the programme. It identified the spending objectives of the programme, including existing arrangements and relevant business needs. It also included an appraisal of various service delivery options. The process is now at detailed business case stage which is focused on the remaining viable options. While it is not envisaged that the Air Corps take full responsibility for this service on the basis of that initial assessment, my Department was asked by the Department of Defence to explore the viability of the Air Corps providing some element of the SAR aviation service.
The Air Corps submission that the Deputy refers to was received by my Department last March and is being reviewed as part of the preparation of a detailed business case on the entire IRCG aviation service. This is part of a deliberative process which will lead to a Government decision in due course and on which it would not be appropriate for me to comment.
To be clear, I have no role in the business case development. This is being led by KPMG and a Project Team which includes officials in my Department and independent expertise. The outcome of this will be brought to Government shortly.
All relevant and reliable information on the current status of this project can be found on our dedicated SAR Webpage –
https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/ed653-irish-coast-guard-search-and-rescue-sar-aviation-project/
