Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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557. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the policies in place for statutory authorities to call upon volunteer organisations that are trained to help with search and rescue operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6781/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Search and Rescue operations may be led by a number of different authorities, depending on the type and severity of incident. The Coast Guard, a division of my Department, is the principal emergency authority for marine search and rescue.

The Coast Guard operationally oversees 900 Coast Guard volunteers and has in place a wide range of internal policies to support this vital service. The policies include operational procedures for search and rescue, training policies, health and safety policies and general policies including an overarching "Code of Conduct".

The Coast Guard routinely works with a number of statutory authorities and voluntary organisations where search and rescue is concerned and has service level and/or liaison agreements in place with An Garda Síochána, the Navy, the Irish Under Water Council, Community Inshore Rescue Organisations and the Royal National Lifeboat Association, defining respective roles and responsibilities.

The National Framework for Major Emergency Management sets out in detail the policies for co-ordination between state authorities and between state authorities and voluntary organisations, in the event of a major emergency.