Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. There is currently a project under the remit of the Department of Transport to consider development of a new marine search and rescue, SAR, aviation contract for future service provision, as the Deputy has outlined. The Deputy has been fair in saying the provision of search and rescue aviation services in Ireland has, to a great extent, involved a mix of private provision since the 1980s, and has been fully provided on a 24-7 basis by a private entity since 2004, with the Air Corps providing support, including top cover support, to the Coast Guard on an “as available” basis.

As part of this ongoing project, a preliminary appraisal of service provider options ruled out the option of either the Air Corps or the Coast Guard taking full responsibility for SAR aviation services in Ireland at that stage. However, given its historical role in the area, the Government would like to explore further the option of the Air Corps providing some element of the aviation services. I know the Minister for Defence, Deputy Coveney, has asked his officials to engage with the Department of Transport to explore this matter further and that is part of the detailed appraisal of SAR service provider options.

It is important we get this right for everyone. As the Deputy said, there is considerable State funding at play here and the provision of a life-saving service is the ultimate aim of all concerned. The next step in the process will be to bring a detailed business case to Government early next year, with an appraisal of the viable options and a recommendation on the way forward to delivering this service and the procurement strategy to achieve it. The Department of Defence and the Department of Transport are liaising closely on this. Both the Naval Service and the Air Corps currently provide support to the Coast Guard on an “as available” basis and that will continue. It is a valuable role. I will engage with the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, and the Minister for Defence, Deputy Coveney, on this issue. There is still time to develop the best option.

I am conscious there has been a need for increased and ongoing investment in the Air Corps and also the retention of personnel. However, there has been significant investment in equipment and personnel. The replacement of the Air Corps Cessna fleet, as provided for in the White Paper, with three larger aircraft, which are equipped for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance, has been completed. These aircraft, which cost just over €43 million, are now operational. In March, a fourth PC-12 NG aircraft was purchased to provide very immediate additional fixed-wing capacity to meet the unique situation arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. The White Paper also provides for the replacement of the CASA 235s with larger, more capable aircraft, which would enhance maritime surveillance and provide a greater degree of utility for transport and cargo carrying tasks. A contract for the supply of two C295 maritime patrol aircraft was entered into with Airbus Defence and Space in December 2019. The cost of the contract, including equipment fit-out and ancillary support, was approximately €221 million and the aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2023.

In terms of personnel, a service commitments scheme for pilots was sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and implemented in the third quarter of 2019, which has had a stabilising effect on numbers. Other measures, such as a recommissioning scheme for former Air Corps pilots, have also boosted pilot numbers, and a range of initiatives which will see accelerated training through outsourcing is restoring capacity to the Air Corps as quickly as possible.

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