Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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273. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he intends to provide extra funding for mountain teams around the country in view of the growth in hill walking and mountain climbing, the importance of it to the tourist industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15906/14]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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274. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation made to each mountain rescue team in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014, to cover the costs of the services that they provide on a voluntary basis to the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15907/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 273 and 274 together.

Once again I would like to put on record my appreciation for the excellent work done by voluntary mountain rescue organisations. It is important to recognise that An Garda Síochána have responsibility for the coordination of mountain rescue teams under the Framework for Major Emergency Management. The Gardaí fall under the remit of the Department of Justice and Equality. However, my Department is responsible through the Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) as Chair of the National Coordinating Committee for Mountain and Cave Rescue, for administering payment of grants to all the mountain rescue teams in Ireland.

Over the past four years this grant funding scheme has provided €362,957 to mountain rescue teams - see table below. In some instances organisations such as Mountain Rescue Ireland, the all-island umbrella organisation governing mountain rescue in Ireland, can make applications to other Departments and agencies under various funding schemes. It is important that voluntary organisations that meet qualifying criteria can seek funding from a variety of sources.

In terms of extra funding from my own Department, I have stated recently that I have asked my officials to consider the introduction of a modest capital grant scheme for mountain rescue activities. However, given constraints on my Department’s overall capital budget and other capital demands arising from my primary responsibility to provide a marine emergency response, it will be some time later in the year before it can be established whether there is any capital funding that could be utilised for mountain rescue services.