Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 39: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will restore the search and rescue service for the Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17470/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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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 had been providing search and rescue, SAR, services off the north-west coast but withdrew in October 2004, following a handover of this role to CHCI, a private operator, which also 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. The changeover from the Air Corps to CHCI will not in any way downgrade or diminish the level of service provided to mariners or to our island communities. I understand the mission list for the coast guard service includes air ambulance, island relief, medevac and so forth.

The decision to withdraw the Air Corps from search and rescue services 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. The decision was taken against what has always been the overriding concern of the Government: the safety of mariners and, indeed, anyone who gets into difficulty where SAR can respond. The Air Corps was not in a position to provide the level of service that was required. There is no plan to reconsider the decision to withdraw from the maritime search and rescue service. However, the Air Corps will continue to provide limited non-maritime search and rescue response and the specifications for the new helicopters being acquired for the Air Corps have this capability.

The White Paper on defence establishes the roles of the Defence Forces as including the provision of service to civil authorities as and when required. The Defence Forces have never been found wanting in this regard and 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.