Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 291: To ask the Minister for Defence the role of the Defence Forces and the Civil Defence in search and rescue services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8538/07]

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. In accordance with the roles assigned to them by Government in the White Paper on Defence, the Defence Forces are committed to providing support to the civil authorities including in relation to Search and Rescue. In this regard, the Naval Service and Air Corps provide support to the Coast Guard as the need arises and within their available capability. The Defence Forces also provides personnel for large-scale searches within the State as and when requested by the Civil Power (An Garda Síochána) or the Civil Authorities.

The role of Civil Defence in Search and Rescue can be defined as a second-line support service to the Principal Emergency Response Agencies. Rescue activity in Civil Defence can be divided into three categories. Volunteers are trained in urban rescue, open country search for missing persons and water-based search and recovery. At local level, Civil Defence responds to calls for assistance in Search and Rescue operations as a service of the Local Authority.