Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would appreciate that. I would point out that we have a valuable service in the south-east region. An airport is under threat simply because of the lack of funding. It is breathtaking. As I said last night, the figure of €350,000 that is needed to support our services in Waterford has been rescinded, while the figure of €126 million has been allocated to the rest of regional aviation centres across the country.

I have three other questions. I will pose all three questions together. The first question is on the application of night-vision goggles which have been supplied, fitted and trained to the Sligo rescue helicopter. I understand it is happening in Shannon. It has not happened in Waterford yet. When is this going to be completed? These night-vision goggles are only approved for helicopter emergency medical service, HEMS, activity. They are not approved for search and rescue activity. Would Ms O’Keeffe please tell us why that is the case? How is that going to be overturned? These are needed for night-time flying activities.

Second, what framework documents has the Department put in place similar to the UK Civil Aviation Authority's CAP 999, which basically provides a governance and framework for the operation of helicopter activity? Has the Department of Transport done this? Has the Irish Aviation Authority done it? If they have not done it, why not? When are they doing it?

The third question is on what came up in the report. Does the Department now acknowledge a need for a nationally-based, fixed-wing aircraft, either in Shannon or Dublin, to provide all of the activities that are needed for top flight cover, for patient transfer and for pollution monitoring? I understand that at present we are paying significant money for a Medevac plane in Ireland which is stationed for patient transfers. We could potentially be using that within a new tender. The money can certainly be found. Does Ms O’Keeffe accept that there should be no discussion about having a helicopter doing top flight cover when it can only be on scene for half an hour, when an airplane could provide up to seven or eight hours of top flight cover? Is the Department looking at this?