Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)

As Minister of State with responsibility for international and road transport, logistics, rail and ports, I welcome the opportunity to participate in this debate on the new Coast Guard aviation service. The Irish Coast Guard search and rescue, SAR, aviation services are provided under a contract that is currently transitioning to Bristow Ireland Limited, BIL. The previous contractor, CHCI, had operated the service since 2012. On 30 May 2023, the Government approved the decision to award a contract for provision of the next national SAR aviation service to Bristow Helicopters. The decision to award the next contract for the delivery of an enhanced contract specification followed a comprehensive and robust public procurement process, which was undertaken fully in accordance with all national and EU procurement rules.

Bristow Ireland was established in August 2020 and is a subsidiary of Bristow Group Incorporated, a US-based multinational company. Bristow Group Incorporated currently operates similar contracts for SAR services for Governments in the UK and the Netherlands, and it also has extensive experience in supporting the oil and gas business internationally.

The total cost of the new contract, signed on 11 August 2023, for the standard ten-year contract term for the rotary wing element, plus a five-year minimum term for the fixed wing element, amounts to €816 million, including VAT. The Minister has the discretion to extend both the rotary and fixed wing elements to a maximum of 13 years.

The new enhanced contract specification provides for the operation of six AW 189 helicopters, five of which are newly built and have already been accepted into service by Bristow, with the sixth helicopter scheduled to enter service in September of this year. In addition, for the first time, the new contract includes a fixed wing element, which will be delivered by 2Excel Ireland, subcontractors to BIL, using two King Air aircraft. The fixed wing service, which recently commenced operations, is a notable addition to the State, enhancing the Coast Guard’s SAR capabilities, including inland and maritime, provision of “top cover” communications for longer-range helicopter missions, an air-droppable life raft capability, maritime environmental protection measures, including investigation of pollution and ship casualty reports, and capacity to transport up to three walk-on patients for emergency national or international transfers.

The new integrated aviation service will enhance the Coast Guard’s ability to deliver on its core services, including maritime and inland search and rescue, conduct maritime environmental monitoring, including pollution checks, provide aeromedical supports to the HSE and the National Ambulance Service, including helicopter emergency medical support and inter-hospital transfers, provide day and nighttime aeromedical support to the offshore island communities and provide other aviation support to State organisations. The new contract also provides improved crew accommodation facilities and enhanced mission management technology.

The regulatory certifications secured in 2024 included approval to conduct helicopter emergency medical services, HEMS. In April of this year, BIL was notified by the IAA that the stretcher in use by Bristow Ireland was not yet fully certified for HEMS activity. I understand the IAA directive relates only to the use of stretchers on board HEMS missions and the decision, therefore, has no impact on the delivery of primary Coast Guard aviation services, most notably search and rescue activities. This temporary HEMS stretcher restriction only applies to the Shannon base and the Coast Guard continues to provide nationwide HEMS support to the HSE and the NAS from its bases at Sligo, Waterford and Dublin. I understand Bristow has identified a replacement solution and expects this issue to be resolved shortly.

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