Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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53. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on calls for funding for the Donegal mountain rescue team, which has seen an unprecedented increase in demand for its support services, not only in upland areas but also in the lowlands, given the difficulties this presents in view of funding cutbacks made since 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20398/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​My Department provides a Coastal Inshore Mountain and Cave Grant to the Donegal Mountain Rescue Team in the amount of €7,407, in line with its policy of providing grants to a small number of Mountain and Cave Rescue organisations. The grant awarded has been maintained at its current level since 2011. The Department has no role, other than the provision of grant aid, in respect of Mountain rescue. Mountain Rescue Teams are tasked by An Garda Síochána, which comes under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Irish Coastguard is a Division of this Department. The Irish Coastguard have a number of functions, which include Search and Rescue and Maritime Pollution Prevention and Response. With the exception of Aviation Rescue Co-ordination Centres and Rescue Co-ordination Sub-Centres, which are the responsibility of the Irish Aviation Authority, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport is the authority responsible for both Maritime and Aviation Search and Rescue under the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the International Maritime Organisation Conventions and under domestic law.

The location, distribution and response service provided by Irish Coastguard assets are kept under continuous review with a view to development and improvement in the delivery of search and rescue services around the country. While I accept the vital nature of the commitment made by Donegal Mountain Rescue, I believe that budgetary priority must be given to the primary responsibility of providing a marine emergency response service.