Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

): I am very pleased to have this opportunity to speak on the subject of the search and rescue helicopter service on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Transport, Deputy Noel Dempsey. There has been much ill informed comment about the proposed new helicopter contract. Since we are in the standstill period of the procurement process and about to commence contract negotiations, I am somewhat constrained in what can be said. However, I outline the following points. The new contract has been presented as a cutback in services but nothing could be further from the truth. Far from being a cutback, the contract is a vast half a billion euro investment in maritime search and rescue capability on the island. The new contract will cost significantly more on an annual basis than the current contract because of the improved services to be provided. The proposed contract represents a dramatic increase in funding for SAR helicopter services in Ireland from approximately €30 million to €50 million per annum. This is an increase in difficult circumstances of €20 million a year in this service alone. The Government has also approved the retention of four helicopter bases, including Waterford, for a period to at least 2023.

The new contract represents a stepped improvement in the capacity, range, speed and capability of Ireland's SAR service. The existing contract expires on 30 June but includes a once-off option to flexibly extend individual bases by different lengths up to a maximum of three years, up to 30 June 2013. The Government, therefore, decided to replace the current fleet at significant additional cost - approximately €20 million per annum.

Modern helicopters are much more capable than the current aircraft. They fly at a speed of about 150 knots, can lift more people from further out at sea and are usually able to fly in cloud. They are also more available and dependable, requiring less routine maintenance and being less prone to breakdown.

Bidders were required to quote for a number of alternative options by which the target level of service could be provided. A preferred bidder has now been nominated and the Department of Transport is in the standstill period before contract negotiations can begin.

The annual cost will increase substantially as a result of the provision of modern helicopters. This increased cost will have to be found from within the Department of Transport's existing budget. However, they will deliver a marked improvement in the service. The new helicopters will fly to the scene of a mission faster, find vessels or persons in the water more efficiently, using better search, surveillance and tracking tools, winch them to safety more quickly, provide better medical facilities on board and return them to safety in the shortest possible time.

I, again, confirm that there will be no change in 24-hour availability from the Waterford base before July 2013. Furthermore, the future of Waterford Airport as a base for a Coast Guard SAR helicopter will be cemented until at least 2023. While a 12-hour contract is to be negotiated for the post-2013 period, the Government is committed to keeping the position under review in the light of operational requirements at Waterford and the availability of funding. To put the 12-hour operation in context, in 2009 this would have required 13 of the 113 missions flown from Waterford to be met from another base. In some cases the new helicopters would have arrived earlier but, on average, the additional time required would have been about ten minutes.

In the three years to 2013 the following factors will be considered: the ability of neighbouring search and rescue resources to successfully reach those incidents and effect a rescue; the development of the UK helicopter search and rescue service which will occur at the same time as the Irish changeover and which use the same helicopters; the availability of other search and rescue resources such as lifeboats; changes in the frequency, times, location or pattern of incidents in the area, and financial resources. Thereafter the level of incidents and response times at Waterford will continue to be kept under review during the ten-year contract period.

At national level, in difficult financial circumstances, the new contract is a major recognition by the Government of the value of the Irish Coast Guard and the communities it serves. It is also a substantial commitment to the continuing development of maritime safety services.