Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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437. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the person or body that has ultimate responsibility to ensure the safety of the Coast Guard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47877/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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In terms of ensuring the safety of Irish Coast Guard volunteers, the Irish Coast Guard, which is a Division of my Department, ensures the volunteer units are appropriately equipped and trained to carry out the type of activities for which they may be tasked. The Coast Guard carry out regular audits to determine operational readiness. 

The Department is currently  engaged in a recruitment process for three additional Coastal Unit Sector Managers and a Health and Safety Officer to further support the Coast Guard and its volunteers, in delivering its service on our coast.

As regards the Irish Coast Guard's SAR helicopter service, the  Irish Aviation Authority issues a national SAR Approval to CHCI DAC, who are the operator contracted by the Irish Coast Guard to deliver this service. Through this practice, there is a system in place to validate the suitability of the CHCI SAR helicopters, crew, training and operational standards for SAR operations.