Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason he chose to hire private contractors to provide search and rescue facilities when the Air Corps possesses six helicopters suitable to fill the role and has the staff capable for being trained for such a role; if he will in future, prior to the signing of contracts, assess whether the Defence Forces have the capability to fulfil part or all of a role required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15995/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Both the Department of Transport and the Department of Defence considered the possibility of the Department of Defence taking over responsibility for maritime Search and Rescue operations. The Department of Defence consulted with the Aer Corps at that time. However the potential for the Air Corps to re-enter this area of operations is not feasible.

Contract search and rescue helicopter services have been provided in Ireland since 1991. The entire delivery of our national aeronautical search and rescue service fully transferred to contract delivery since 2004. The Aer Corps has not been involved in helicopter search and rescue in the maritime domain since then and could not re-enter this role except through significant investment and training over a long period of time.

The Air Corps was fully withdrawn from Maritime SAR in 2004 after a considered assessment of the capacity of the Air Corps following operational difficulties. The Air Corps was not in a position to provide the level of service that was required on a consistent and continuous basis. The current Air Corps helicopter assets are not configured for maritime search and rescue nor does it have pilots or winchmen with the required training and experience to support such operations. Indeed it should be noted that the smaller Aer Corps EC135 or AW139 helicopters do not provide the maritime search and rescue capacity and capability of the Sikorsky S92A's that will be provided on the new contract.

Using the Air Corps helicopter fleet for Maritime SAR would require large capital and current investment. Additional helicopters would have to be purchased, existing helicopters would have to converted into SAR aircraft, additional helicopter crews and support staff would have to be recruited and trained.

The new contract with CHC will run for 10 years and will represent a stepped improvement in the safety, range, speed, and capability of Ireland's SAR service, using modern medium-load helicopters. CHC Ireland is also the current service provider.