Vol. 545 No. 4
37 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Defence the progress made to date in the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the air accident investigation unit into the crash of an Air Corps helicopter in Tramore, County Waterford in July 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30655/01]
Following publication of the report of the air accident investigation unit of the Department of Public Enterprise into the accident at Tramore on 2 July 1999, urgent action was taken by my Department in relation to the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report. In this regard I put in place arrangements to monitor progress in regard to the implementation of the recommendations.
The ninth meeting of a working group charged with overseeing the process took place on Thursday, 1 November 2001 in the Department of Defence, involving representatives from my Department, including the Defence Forces and the flight safety officer of the Air Corps, as well as a representative from the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources. Progress reports from the various bodies involved were presented and reviewed. I am pleased to say that very substantial progress is being made in regard to the implementation of the recommendations. The group is scheduled to meet again on Thursday, 24 January 2002 and will continue to meet as necessary until all the safety recommendations set out in the report are implemented. It will be appreciated that safety of flying operations is an ongoing organic process requiring continuous attention.
One of the key recommendations was that an independent air operations safety audit of the Air Corps should be commissioned. This was done and I received the final report of the consultants involved in July 2001. This report was examined by both my Department and the military authorities, following which the Air Corps was tasked to take immediate steps towards implementing the recommendations. In a report, submitted by the Air Corps flight safety officer last month, the Air Corps has outlined progress to date on implementing certain of the recommendations contained in the safety audit and the further action required. To further advance the implementation of the recommendations of the safety audit, a working group was established comprising members of the Defence Forces and an official of my Department, to oversee the consideration and implementation of the safety issues addressed in the safety audit. The working group met most recently last Thursday, 29 November 2001 and, again, I am pleased to announce that significant progress is being made.
A further key recommendation contained in the air accident investigation unit report was the establishment of an air safety office in the Air Corps and this was acted on straightaway. The air safety office is an intrinsic part of the new Air Corps organisational structure. A full-time flight safety officer of lieutenant colonel rank and an officer of captain rank have been appointed by the GOC Air Corps to the office. The flight safety officer reports directly to the GOC Air Corps. The flight safety officer has availed of a programme of specialist training and courses to equip him for his post. The findings of the independent air operations safety audit are the primary focus of the flight safety office.
As I have previously stated in the House, I take all safety issues very seriously and the safety of personnel working in the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, at home and overseas, is of paramount importance. I have emphasised to the military authorities that safety standards in equipment, facilities and procedures are of the utmost importance. Funding is not an issue where safety is concerned. Funding is, and will continue to be, available to improve and modernise safety equipment and procedures where necessary.
Are the recommendations procedural or has there been physical change in relation to flight safety and the flight safety office? If there has been actual physical change, what was the cost to the Department? Has there been an increase in the number of officials attached to the flight safety office?
It has been changed to colonel and captain rank. We have had a series of meetings involving officials of my Department and the Air Corps and, in certain circumstances, the Department for the Marine and Natural Resources. The changes are primarily procedural, though there have been some physical changes. I am satisfied that a large number of the recommendations have already been implemented. The issue needs constant review. I have no idea of what the overall cost might be, but whatever it is and wherever it is needed, funding will be made available.
