Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs. I thank Senator McFadden for raising it.

Responsibility for responding to boating incidents on the Shannon navigation, including Athlone and its environs, rests primarily with the Garda Síochána which, following initial assessment, generally informs the maritime rescue co-ordination centre of the Irish Coast Guard, which is part of the Department of Transport and which tasks the appropriate "declared" rescue assets in the area, such as an RNLI or Community Rescue Boats Ireland, CRBI, lifeboat or Coast Guard helicopter. The Department of Transport exercises overarching responsibility for maritime and aviation search and rescue, SAR, services and in respect of maritime and aviation safety through its divisions and agencies, namely, the Irish Aviation Authority, IAA, and airport, port and harbour authorities.

As a division of the Department of Transport, the Irish Coast Guard has responsibility for the co-ordination of maritime SAR emergency response at sea and along the coasts and cliffs and on major inland lakes, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. It has a comprehensive marine communications network covering Irish offshore and inland waterways. Since 2000 the Irish Coast Guard has expanded its marine VHF radio network to cover all the inland navigations of Ireland so any craft fitted with a VHF radio transceiver can contact it in the event of an emergency. It also has the facility to monitor emergency positions indicating radio beacons, EPIRBs, if fitted to craft and activated in emergencies. Since 2005, the RNLI and the CRBI have each established rescue stations on Lough Derg, at Dromineer and Killaloe-Ballina respectively. At present there is no declared rescue craft on Lough Ree. Athlone and Roscommon sub-aqua clubs respond when called upon, if they have members available at the time to man their craft.

Waterways Ireland, a North-South implementation body under the remit of the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, does not see itself becoming involved in this area of marine activity, particularly in light of other Departments' responsibilities, the very professional service that is already in place and the excellent work being carried out by the volunteers of the RNLI and the CRBI. Waterways Ireland is responsible for the management, maintenance, development and restoration of the inland navigable waterway system, principally for recreational purposes. It has been given the specific responsibility by the North-South Ministerial Council of restoring the south-west section of the Ulster Canal from Lough Erne to Clones.