The next meeting of the National Co-Ordinating Committee for Cave and Mountain Rescue is due to take place on 23rd March 2018 at 11.00hrs. The Committee is chaired by the Coast Guard, which is a Division of my Department and its membership includes the Irish Cave and Rescue Organisation (ICRO), Civil Defence, Mountain Rescue Ireland, An Garda Síochána, the Air Corps, and the Department of Justice and Equality
The purpose of the Committee is to monitor the provision and development of mountain and cave rescue facilities; to provide liaison between the Irish Mountain Rescue Association and its Mountain Rescue Teams and the Irish Cave Rescue Association, relevant Government Departments and other public bodies; and to advise on the allocation of small state grants for Mountain and Cave Rescue. The Committee meets at least twice a year. It has not produced any formal recommendations for action for my attention in the past two years.