asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether consideration has been given to the question of providing a helicopter for sea rescue and other purposes, and, if so, with what result.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Provision of Helicopter.
The question of the possible use of helicopters for sea rescue and other purposes has been under review by my Department.
The indications are, however, that the high capital cost and annual outlay involved would be prohibitive in relation to the rare occasions on which helicopters might be of use in sea rescue work. I am advised that at least six helicopters would be required to ensure, as far as possible, that a helicopter was available within a reasonable time on the occasion of any disaster in the vicinity of our coastlines. The provision of helicopters for other, e.g. commercial, purposes is dependent on support from commercial interests and this aspect of the matter has also been under consideration. Inquiries so far have not shown that there would be sufficient support to make the provision of helicopters for these purposes practicable.
Are we to understand from what the Parliamentary Secretary has said that because, apparently, we cannot buy six helicopters, we will not buy one or two because, as the Parliamentary Secretary said in his reply, six would be necessary to do the job adequately? Surely we ought to start, in any case, with one or two? If we disposed of at least one of the unwanted jets at Baldonnel we would be able to provide the country with a helicopter service which could be used for sea rescue work, by Bord na Móna, for Shannon surveys, by the Board of Works and in a variety of other ways.
All the considerations that the Deputy has mentioned have already been examined and there has been no final outcome from that examination yet. I did not say anything of the kind suggested by the Deputy. It is problematical whether one or two helicopters would be of sufficient use in sea rescue work.
So long as we have the British in Derry, we need not bother—is that the idea?
Why did you not buy them?
We did not get a chance of selling the jets or we might have done so.
You sold Killarney.
We sold Tulyar, too.
You did not lose much either.