Written answers

Wednesday, 5 May 2010

Department of Transport

Search and Rescue Service

9:00 pm

Photo of Ciarán LynchCiarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 84: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will report on the arrangements for the operation of the coast guard search and rescue service; if the four existing bases will continue on a 24 hour basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17886/10]

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has approved a half a billion-euro investment in maritime search and rescue capability on the island. The contract, which is to run until 2023 makes provision for the operation of the 4 existing bases, on a full time day and night basis.

This investment is a major advancement for search and rescue in Ireland at a time of serious budgetary constraints. The new contract will represent a stepped improvement in the capacity, range, speed and capability of Ireland's SAR service.

In short the new helicopters are equipped to fly to the scene of a mission faster, find the vessels or persons in the water more efficiently using better search, surveillance and tracking tools, winch them to safety more quickly, provide better medical facilities onboard and return them to safety in the shortest possible time.

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