Vol. 395 No. 6
9 Mr. G. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Marine , having regard to the fact that over £10 million will be available for fishery protection services, if he will confirm recent reports that none of this funding will be available for search and rescue operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Search and rescue within the State's area of responsibility involves a number of State and voluntary agencies including the marine rescue co-ordinating centre at Shannon, the Air Corps, the Naval Service, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), the coast radio stations at Valentia and Malin Head and the coast and cliff rescue service. The operations of all these agencies, with the exception of the RNLI, are funded directly by the State. The State does not finance the lifeboat service although my Department make an annual grant of £100,000 to the RNLI.
In January of this year I launched 11 new fisheries patrol boats at Howth. While the main purpose of these boats is to combat illegal salmon fishing and the protection of salmon stocks, the boats come with the added bonus of being suitable for sea rescue operations.
A package agreed in November at the Council of Ministers' meeting set aside 110 million ECUs, IR£85 million approximately, for fishery surveillance and Ireland hopes to get a large share of this. I should point out that search and rescue services are specifically excluded from this package. Fisheries protection vessels and aircraft may, of course, be employed to assist in search and rescue operations.
Will the Minister agree that concern has been expressed by various organisations along the south and west coasts regarding search and rescue? Will he agree that a higher priority should be given to search and rescue methods? At present a sum of £10 million has been allotted for fishery protection but none of the money has gone towards the replacement of helicopters?
I agree that this is a matter of great importance which is exercising the minds of many people. Another question on the Order Paper is germane to this one. However, the money mentioned by the Deputy is to be spent on maritime patrol aircraft, communications facilities for sea fishery officers, inshore protection vessels and transport. It specifically excludes the search and rescue operations but advantageously they may be used for search and rescue.
Is the Minister happy with our search and rescue service?
There is a question on the Order Paper with regard to that. The Deputy will be aware that a committee have been studying this problem. I will come to that issue later.
