Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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450. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if volunteer coastguard rescue technicians were consulted prior to the Irish Coast Guard issuing a recent tender for life jacket replacements and cliff-climbing equipment; and if not, the reason. [15196/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The Coast Guard, which is a Division of my Department, is conducting tender processes for both life jackets and cliff climbing equipment. Both tenders are for replacements based on specifications already agreed. In other words, they are "like for like" and intended simply to replace stock which is coming to end of life in 2019.  Expertise within the Coast Guard is available to determine whether changes to these specifications are required - which in these cases was not deemed necessary. The IRCG does not have "rescue technicians". However a Technical Advisory Group comprising both full-time and volunteer members was established as a sub-committee of the Coastal Unit Advisory Group to assist in such matters when required. The CUAG is also an important forum for volunteers to raise issues in relation to equipment. The CUAG is kept informed of these and other tender processes as appropriate.