Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 74: To ask the Minister for Defence if he has satisfied himself regarding the strength of the Air Corps rescue services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24533/04]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 75: To ask the Minister for Defence if adequate staff, equipment and training facilities are available to the members of the Air Corps involved in the rescue services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24535/04]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 75 together.

The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 sets out a figure of 930 personnel for the Air Corps. There are no proposals to increase the strength of the Air Corps above the White Paper figure. It is my intention to maintain the established Government policy of ongoing recruitment to the Defence Forces and to continue to maintain the strength at a level required to meet military needs and as set out in the White Paper, that is, 930 in the case of the Air Corps.

The Irish Coast Guard has overall responsibility for the provision of maritime search and rescue services within the Irish search and rescue region. The Air Corps has been providing search and rescue, SAR, services off the north-west coast but withdrew yesterday following a hand-over of this role to CHCI, a private operator, which currently provides the service at the country's other SAR bases at Dublin, Shannon and Waterford.

I understand from my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, that CHCI will provide continuity of SAR service to the coastal, island and seafaring communities in the north west. I understand that the mission list for the Coast Guard's service includes air ambulance, island relief, Medivac, etc.

The withdrawal of the Air Corps from search and rescue services was announced by my predecessor in late 2003. This decision was only made following a considered assessment of the capacity of the Air Corps to return to and maintain a full 24 hour service in the north west. As Deputies may recall, the service had been restricted following on from an unusually high incidence of sick leave among the winchcrews. There is no plan to reconsider the decision to withdraw from the search and rescue service.

My Department is currently engaged in a tender competition for the acquisition of six new helicopters for the Air Corps. Their primary role will be that of general purpose military operations and training. Primary taskings will include training and operations with the Army, security and aid to the civil power, military exercises, infantry interoperability training and limited troop transport. However, these helicopters will also be available to perform air ambulance, aid to the civil community and VIP transport tasks. Air Corps pilots and crews will continue to train in search and rescue techniques to provide a limited non-maritime search and rescue capability within the Defence Forces.

The White Paper on Defence establishes the roles of the Defence Forces as including the provision of services to civil authorities as and when required. The Defence Forces have never been found wanting in this regard, particularly, in times of floods, forest fires, severe weather conditions or any other emergencies faced by the community. In the event of an emergency request from the Coast Guard, or, indeed, from any other service, the Air Corps will obviously respond to any such request in its usual efficient and supportive manner and to the best of its capability.