Vol. 415 No. 1
125 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for the Marine if he has satisfied himself that the helipad provided at Blacksod, Ballina, County Mayo, is capable of being serviceable in bad weather without the facility of a stand-by generator; whether there are any formal links between his Department and the Commissioners of Irish Lights to assist in rescues by use of the helipad; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Upgrading of the Commissioners of Irish Lights helipad at Blacksod has been completed. The upgrading of this helipad permits day and night refueling of search and rescue helicopters.
Pressure refueling of my Department's helicopter — the Sikorsky S61N — took place on the helipad on the 19 January and I am happy to report that all went very well. In the event of the helicopter not being able to land at Blacksod due to bad weather or otherwise, alternative good back-up refueling facilities can be arranged, on request, at Connaught, and Sligo Airports and Finner Camp.
The Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre at Shannon are responsible for the co-ordination of all search and rescue responses within the Irish SAR area.
The Director of Irish Marine Emergency Service will shortly be meeting with the Commissioners of Irish Lights to make whatever arrangements are necessary for the use of the helipad at Blacksod.
I have asked the Electricity Supply Board to provide monthly statistics on downage of electrical power supply in the area and this information will be part of the on-going assessment of the helipad requirements.
