Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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402. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if 6.4 and annex 2 of the service level agreement between the ICG and his Department explicitly states that SAR top cover is an Air Corps function; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18868/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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A Service Level Agreement between the Department of Defence and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, provides that the Coast Guard search and rescue services can request the support of the Air Corps on an ‘as available’ basis. The Irish Coast Guard, which operates under the aegis of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, has overall responsibility for the provision of Search and Rescue services within the Irish search and rescue region.

As previously advised availability is dependent upon a number of factors including the availability of suitable aircraft and flying crews, ATC cover and weather conditions.