Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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1321. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of missions carried out by Irish Coast Guard helicopter crews by search and rescue base in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16681/18]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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1322. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of missions carried out by Irish Coast Guard helicopter crews by search and rescue base in 2017 specifically to assist the national ambulance service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16682/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1321 and 1322 together.

Coast Guard helicopter services are provided under contract to my Department by CHC Ireland. These services are delivered from four bases located at Sligo, Shannon, Waterford and Dublin airports. The primary role of the Coast Guard helicopter service is maritime search and rescue. In addition aeromedical support services are provided under arrangements agreed with the HSE National Ambulance Service on a request and 'as available' basis. Coordination of these services is managed by Coast Guard Rescue Coordination centres based in Malin Head, Valentia and Dublin.

In 2017 Coast Guard helicopters were tasked for a total of 755 missions of which 144 were carried out on request from the National Ambulance Service. Of these, 74 were provided by the Sligo Base, 48 by the Shannon base, 14 by the Waterford base and 8 by the Dublin base.

In relation to the overall number of missions, 308 were operated by the Sligo base, 231 by the Shannon base, 117 by the Waterford base and 99 by the Dublin base.