Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have requested a report on that through the office of the Minister of State, Deputy Paul Kehoe. I received it the other day and I would be happy to share it with the Deputy if it has been cleared. I recognise the efforts of the local community in Donegal, the local authority and the fire services, as they did phenomenal work to ensure the fires did not spread and more damage was not done. With regard to the response to fires, the Air Corps is not a standby service and those crews are not waiting for a call-out in the way the fire brigade does. If these crews get a request for backup - and it is backup - the Air Corps would have to assemble equipment and crews, which will always take some hours. There is also flying time to consider.

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