Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

A 24 hour service at four bases that costs €27 million per annum will be changed for a 24 hour service at three bases and a 12 hour service at one base, which will cost €50 million. That is unacceptable, particularly to the people of the south east. Why is the Minister doing this? Why is the Minister reducing the time cover? Notwithstanding that we will have a different calibre of helicopter, surely it will take longer to go from Dublin to Waterford and from there to a distressed ship. If there is a 24 hour service already in existence, why should people have confidence in a 12 hour service? It is not acceptable. The savings come to €1 million per annum, but the Minister wasted most of that on the DAA competition, so surely he could provide a 24 hour service at four locations for safety reasons.

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