Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 23 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 5

Written Answers. - Marine Rescue Service.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

48 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he has satisfied himself that current provision in respect of air sea rescue services are sufficient to meet requirements in all eventualities; his proposals for any improvement in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27176/00]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

49 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he has satisfied himself that adequate resources and procedures are in place in respect of air sea rescue services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27177/00]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. Fahey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 49 together.

I am always striving to improve the level of coverage available on all Irish coasts to meet growing demands both offshore and onshore and to ensure the coverage continues to meet both national and international requirements for marine search and rescue operations.

Major strides have been made in recent years in bringing the quality of resources, readiness, training and management up to a level in Ireland that is second to none in Europe at present. The Irish Coast Guard, a division of my Department, has contracted two civilian Sikorski S61N search and rescue helicopters, one based in Shannon Airport and the second in Dublin Airport. These helicopters are available on a 24 hour 365 day basis for emergency response on any part of the coastline. The coast guard has 65 full-time staff and more than 600 volunteers. It manages and operates three co-ordination/communication centres at Dublin, Malin Head and Valentia, 12 remote VHF sites, two voice repeater sites and 52 coastal emergency response stations providing shore coverage.

In addition to its own resources, the Irish Coast Guard has a number of declared resources available to it on a 24 hour basis all year round. These include two Air Corps search and rescue helicopters based at Finner and Waterford, the RNLI which has 24 lifeboat stations around the coast and eight community inshore rescue service boats based in strategic locations. It can also call on the Department of Defence naval vessels and divers, the Air Corps fixed wing aircraft, the Garda and their divers and the UK Coastguard and all vessels at sea in a marine emergency. In addition, many local volunteer groups, such as sub-aqua clubs, assist in searches and I would like to put on record my appreciation of the work done by all those involved.

We are constantly assessing the case, based on risk assessment by location, for improving resources. We are also undertaking a major programme of re-equipment and refurbishment of facilities available to coast guard volunteers and I can assure the House that I am responding positively in all cases where it is made clear to us that the provision of new facilities and the re-equipment and up-grading of existing facilities will add to our capacity to save lives at sea.

With regard to proposals for future developments, a departmental group modelled on the principles of partnership and consisting of staff, unions and management is assessing the recent IMES expenditure review, including the recommendations concerning a coast guard, and will identify the necessary organisational and service delivery changes which might arise with a view to maintaining and enhancing the high quality provision of search and rescue and pollution response in our marine and littoral areas.

Work is in progress on the preparation of legislation, a coast guard Bill which will give the Irish Coast Guard a firm legislative base and statutory duty of responsibility for all activities associated with the discharge of its remit.

My colleague, Deputy Smith, the Minister for Defence, announced on 12 July 2000 the first stage of a process to acquire new medium lift helicopters for the Air Corps. This major investment programme involves the acquisition of two medium lift helicopters, with an option for a third for search and rescue purposes as well as an option for two medium lift helicopters for general purpose military transport. The acquisition of medium lift helicopters for the Air Corps for search and rescue is a positive indication of the Government's commitment to the Air Corps and is welcomed by the coast guard.

A working group of my Department and the Department of Defence has been set up on the subject of dedicated helicopter search and rescue assets. This group will, in tandem with the current tender competition for the supply of medium lift helicopters to the Air Corps, determine the overall helicopter resources required, civil and military, and the optimum deployment of same to cover the Irish search and rescue region. It will identify and make recommendations on the specific Air Corps resources which will have to be committed and deployed to meet those requirements. It will also consider all options – lease, extension of current contracts etc. – for the provision of interim solutions for the overall requirements taking into account the lead time for the delivery of new medium lift helicopters to the Air Corps.

I hope that once a medium load-carrying helicopter is based on the north-west coast, and agreement is reached with the IAA, and the level of increased taskings is assessed and accepted by the declared resources, discussions should commence with the UK to expand the Irish search and rescue region to the north-west to coincide with the Irish pollution responsibility zone, which includes the ocean areas where it is the custom and practice for Irish fishing vessels and the Irish naval vessels to operate.

The Irish Coast Guard helicopter coverage is being upgraded from September 2001 in that from that date the backup helicopter will have the same auto-hover capacity as the other two helicopters.