Vol. 511 No. 6
164 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence the plans, if any, he has to provide the Air Corps with medium range helicopters similar to those contracted by the Department of Marine and Natural Resources (details supplied) to provide search and rescue cover on the east and west coasts in view of the Tramore tragedy in which four members of the Air Corps were killed in July 1999. [25011/99]
The question of future equipment requirements for the Air Corps will be dealt with in the context of the White Paper on Defence which I plan to bring forward by the end of the year. I might add that, following the review of the Air Corps which was carried out by consultants Price Waterhouse, I asked the chief of staff to prepare, in conjunction with the general officer commanding the Air Corps, a draft implementation plan for my consideration, to give effect to the effectiveness and efficiency recommendations made in the consultant's report. The draft plan was submitted recently and is under examination.
