Vol. 496 No. 1
51 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he has satisfied himself with the level of air-sea coverage available on all Irish coasts; if he has satisfied himself that a single engine helicopter based in Waterford provides adequate cover for the south-east coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21977/98]
I am satisfied that the level of air-sea coverage available on all Irish coasts meets both national and international standards for marine search and rescue operations. The Deputy may be aware that in June 1996 a report was completed on the adequacy of the marine search and rescue coverage on the east coast covering the area from Carlingford Lough to Youghal and out to the boundaries between the Irish search and rescue region and the United Kingdom regions. All the recommendations made in the report have either been implemented or are in the process of being implemented. A review of the level of marine search and rescue coverage on the south and west coasts will take place in the near future as part of the Strategic Management Initiative.
The declared helicopter facilities available to IMES are two IMES Sikorsky all-weather medium load carrying helicopters available 24 hours, based at Shannon and Dublin Airports, together with two Air Corps helicopters. One of the Air Corps helicopters is a light load-carrying Dauphin helicopter available 24 hours based at Finner, County Donegal and the second is an Alouette helicopter based at Waterford Airport providing daylight cover for the east and south east coasts. The Waterford Airport base will be upgraded to a 24-hour Dauphin helicopter service on 1 July 1999 assuming that the crew numbers remain stable. This enhancement will complete the helicopter coverage for all Irish coasts and is the implementation of one of the recommendations of the report of the review of the adequacy of the marine search and rescue coverage on the east coast.
I should stress that while the IMES helicopters are based at Shannon and Dublin Airports and an Air Corps helicopter is based at Finner, they are available on a 24-hour 365 day basis for emergency response on any part of the coastline. Their call-out response time is not more than 15 minutes between 7.30 a.m. and 9 p.m. and not more than 45 minutes outside these times throughout the year. They are positioned so that they can reach, by day, 40 nautical miles off-shore in one hour and by night or in bad weather, 100 nautical miles in two hours.
I should also mention that shore coverage on the Irish coasts comprises the IMES coastal units, of which there are 50 around our coast. These units are fully equipped to respond to the risks in their area and are on call 24 hours a day. In addition, a number of declared sea facilities are available to the IMES. These are facilities designated as being available according to a specific standard or set criteria. One of these is the RNLI who have 24 lifeboat stations around the coast. Another facility is the community inshore rescue boats of which there are six at present. The IMES can also call on the Department of Defence naval vessels and divers, the Air Corps fixed wing aircraft, the Garda and their divers and UK coastguard and all vessels at sea in a marine emergency situation.
