Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 February 2025
198. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Transport whether Rescue 118 will maintain its 24-hour coverage once transferred to a company (details supplied), or whether it will be reduced to a 12-hour service as seen in Shannon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8880/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra199. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Transport the reason the transition of search-and-rescue services from one company (details supplied) to another has not been communicated to crews and communities; whether crews and communities will be informed in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8881/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra200. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Transport what contingency plans are in place to ensure uninterrupted search-and-rescue (SAR) coverage, particularly for islands and rural coastal areas, while the transition of SAR services from one company to another (details supplied) takes place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8882/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra201. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Transport whether his contract with a company (details supplied) regarding search-and-rescue (SAR) services will meet the contract’s original commitment of all-weather, 24-hour SAR coverage, 365 days a year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8883/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 198 to 201, inclusive, together.
The decision to award the contract to Bristow Ireland Limited (BIL) for the next Coast Guard Search & Rescue Aviation Service contract was approved by the Government in mid-2023 following a comprehensive public procurement process which was undertaken fully in accordance with all national and EU procurement rules. During the 2-year transition phase, the overarching priority remains safe and effective transition without interruption to this essential service.
The new Coast Guard aviation contract provides for the operation of four helicopter bases. Contract transition commenced at Shannon in December 2024 to be followed by Sligo on 30th April 2025. CHCI, the outgoing contractor and Bristow Ireland (BIL), the incoming contractor are actively engaged in agreeing dates for transfer of services in Waterford and Dublin. The contract provides for the delivery of 24/7 services from all four bases. Bristow will operate a fleet of six helicopters to enable 24/7 delivery of Search and Rescue Helicopter service from each of the four bases including Sligo. The Contract provides for the provision of day and night time services (24/7 basis) at each of the four bases, upon completion of the transition process.
Coast Guard aviation services are provided under contract and staff at both CHCI and BIL are employees of their respective companies. From contract inception, Bristow as the incoming contractor has actively engaged with the three Trade Unions FÓRSA, UNITE and IALPA. This engagement is supported by local staff engagements in advance of individual base transition and my Department actively monitors these workstreams through regular engagements with the contractor. This engagement with the trade unions is the principal forum through which all staff transfer matters are addressed. The Coast Guard working through its three Rescue Coordination Centres has well established community engagement networks and this will continue to be the forum through which information is shared and communicated.
Contract performance from an operational and contractual perspective is carefully managed by daily operational tracking, contract management and independent audits conducted by specialist aviation advisers contracted by my Department.
The overarching priority is safe and effective transition without interruption of services. Where my Department recognises the need to revise transition dates to ensure overall safety, it will do so without hesitation and expects full cooperation of both contractors to facilitate revised transition timelines. The Department will not allow risks to be taken in a rush to meet contractual deadlines. Safety of crews and that of inland and maritime communities is the overarching priority.
The operation of four bases provides a resilience for service delivery so that when individual bases become temporarily unavailable, the workload is shared amongst the other bases. In the case of both contracts, availability of any base can range from full availability to partial availability to temporary unavailability. This resilience is an integral element of the current contract and the resilience of the four-base strategy has been of great benefit to CHCI in enabling them to fulfil their contractual obligations during the past 13 years.
