Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Transport the strength of the air and sea rescue service; if any augmentation is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7592/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Coast Guard of my Department manages Ireland's air and sea rescue services and I am satisfied that the arrangements in place compare favourably with best international practice. Search and rescue services are provided through a combination of emergency response services provided by the coast guard and other services provided by a number of charitable and voluntary organisations dedicated to search and rescue.

The principal air and sea rescue resources in Ireland are Coast Guard 24-hour, all-weather helicopters based at Dublin, Waterford, Shannon and Sligo Airports, over 50 coast guard units around the coast, RNLI Lifeboats and the community inshore rescue service. The Irish Coast Guard is also assisted, when required, by the Irish Air Corps and the Irish Naval Service. The Irish Coast Guard and its UK equivalent, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, co-operate in air and sea rescue should the need arise.

The Irish Coast Guard co-ordinates air and sea search and rescue operations, including those services provided by charitable and voluntary organisations. It also ensures that appropriate personnel, training, equipment and facilities are in place among its many declared resources. Coast guard rescue co-ordination centres at Dublin, Malin Head and Valentia and a nation-wide communications network are positioned and equipped to receive distress calls and co-ordinate response to incidents around the coastline and sea areas.