Dinny McGinley
Ceist:114 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Defence if there is progress to date with regard to finding replacement winch crews for the north west Search and Rescue Service. [29399/03]
Written Answers. - Search and Rescue Service.
The Irish Coast Guard has overall responsibility for the provision of search and rescue services within the Irish search and rescue region. The Air Corps provides the search and rescue service off the north west coast. Since late September, there has been an unusually high incidence of sick leave among the Air Corps rear-crew, that is, winchmen and winch operators. As service continuity could not be guaranteed with the existing rearcrews, the GOC of the Air Corps posted 13 of the 17 personnel to other duties.
Since then, all available options to return to a full search and rescue service in the north west have been examined. The Air Corps is endeavoring to return to full service, on a phased basis, as crews become available and there are ongoing consultations with the Coast Guard in this regard. The first full crew is currently engaged in work-up training on the S61 in the north west and, subject to satisfactory review, should go operational shortly. This crew will be able to provide winching capability during daylight hours for part of each week. A number of Air Corps personnel who previously served in search and rescue are also being retrained on the S61. In addition, a competition seeking volunteers to be trained as winchcrews in the search and rescue service has been advertised across the Defence Forces. The initial screening process for selection of the personnel to be trained has commenced.
The current plan envisages that a 12 hour, largely day light, full SAR service will be available from late spring 2004, with the S61 providing a limited service, that is, search, air ambulance, island relief, disaster relief, etc., for the remaining 12 hours. The full 24 hour service on the S61 should commence in the autumn of 2004. In the period up to late spring 2004, the currently available limited S61 service will, of course, continue.
The Air Corps is making every effort to support the return of a full service to the north west. The phased return to full service will be updated as circumstances permit. However, safety considerations are paramount. As such, it is important that new crews are given the necessary time so as they can receive the required training and secure appropriate experience before deployment to operational duties in what is a difficult operating environment.