Vol. 527 No. 4
30 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Defence the reason his Department has delayed in providing crash rescue equipment at Finner Camp, County Donegal which is essential as a support service for Air Corps personnel. [28747/00]
I would like to state at the outset that the provision of a 24 hour Dauphin helicopter search and rescue service by the Air Corps from Finner Camp, County Donegal has not been suspended. I also want to categorically state that the Department of Defence has not delayed in any way the provision of crash rescue equipment at Finner Camp, County Donegal. In this regard, last May, I raised with the military authorities the issue of a fire tender for Finner Camp. I undertook to have the fire tender provided and I instructed the military authorities, to whom responsibility for these types of purchases has been delegated for some time now, to initiate a tender process to acquire a new fire tender for Finner Camp. The fire tender is scheduled for delivery early next year.
As I have stated previously in the House, the safety of personnel working in the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, at home and overseas, is of paramount importance. Safety issues are monitored on an ongoing basis by the military authorities and any necessary work to ensure the continued safety of Defence Forces personnel in carrying out their various tasks will be carried out with my full backing as a matter of priority.
Following media reports in October 2000 I was advised that an internal report had been prepared by Air Corps personnel for the military authorities dealing with the issue of crash rescue services at Air Corps installations. The report suggested that the crash rescue services at these bases were inadequate.
I take all safety issues very seriously. I arranged for an immediate briefing by senior military officers, including the General Officer Commanding the Air Corps. The meeting took place on 10 October. At the briefing, I was presented with a copy of an internal military report and received categoric assurances from the senior military officers present that any shortcomings identified in the report were being dealt with as a matter of urgency. I was also assured that there were no other safety questions of which I was not aware.
Additional Information.I took the opportunity at the meeting to again impress on the senior military officers and the General Officer Commanding the Air Corps that safety standards in both equipment and facilities are of paramount importance. Funding is not an issue where safety is concerned. Funding is, and will continue to be, available to improve and modernise safety equipment.
Pending the delivery of the fire tender and the provision of a crash rescue service at Finner, a Defence Forces working group has examined the matter and has recommended that the Air Corps Dauphin be relocated at an early date to an alternative location in the north-west on an interim basis. The matter is under urgent examination by the military authorities and a decision will be made shortly. In the meantime, search and rescue operations are continuing to be carried out. It is planned that when the fire and crash rescue service is in place on a 24 hour basis the Dauphin will return to Finner Camp.
How long has the Air Corps operated out of Finner Camp? Will the Minister indicate why it has taken so long to provide crash rescue equipment? At the previous Question Time on defence matters, we focused on Waterford and the safety deficit there. Does the Minister agree there is a serious safety deficit in Finner Camp which would not be permissible were the camp operated under the aegis of the civil aviation authorities? Why is a military authority allowed to operate without proper safety equipment?
This matter was first brought to my attention last May at which time I immediately instructed the military authorities to proceed with the process to acquire a fire tender. I have delegated full responsibility for this matter to the military authorities who have proceeded with the tender process. I understand the new fire tender will be delivered next March. Once safety considerations are brought to my notice, funding is not a problem and I will proceed to provide whatever is necessary in this regard.
While one recognises the Minister acted in May, the Air Corps has operated out of Finner Camp for the past four years. Is it not, therefore, a sad reflection on the military authorities that they waited until May to notify the Minister of a specific problem in regard to the fire tender? Is the Minister disappointed at the possibility that a lax attitude towards safety exists within the Defence Forces, of which this case is a classic example?
We could engage in the blame game. I received a relatively blank sheet when I took up office as far as resources were concerned. For the first time ever, the military authorities have access to the kind of financial resources of which they could only have dreamed heretofore. They are in a clear position to respond to any safety matter which arises and that has been exemplified in a range of areas. I held a meeting with the military authorities and requested them to inform me of any further safety requirements. The provision of funding for such requirements will not be a problem.
Is the Minister aware that RACO has been extremely concerned about Air Corps safety issues?
RACO brought this matter to my attention in May and I responded immediately to it.
