Vol. 405 No. 3
152 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for the Marine the stage which rescue services have reached in County Donegal; the date which has been set and the timescale involved for the provision of a full service; if he will outline the rescue services now based in Shannon; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Over the past four years, significant advances have been made in the search and rescue (SAR) infrastructure in County Donegal. The following new facilities have been provided: a remotely controlled marine VHF station located at Glen Head providing a 24 hour watch on distress frequences has been established; a new inshore lifeboat station at Lough Swilly has been established; Malin Head coast radio station has been entirely reequipped and facilities for the reception of automatic distress messages installed; Finner Camp has been upgraded to permit day and night operation of SAR helicopters; and Carrickfinn Airport has been equipped to permit day and night refuelling of SAR helicopters.
The following new facilities in north Mayo also add substantially to the SAR cover in south Donegal: a new offshore lifeboat station at Ballyglass and a new marine VHF station near Belmullet.
When the medium range of SAR helicopter service comes into operation at Shannon Airport, the Dauphin helicopter service currently provided by the Air Corps there will be relocated at Finner, County Donegal. The Air Corps provide a 24 hour search and rescue helicopter service at Shannon.
