Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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250. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the voluntary river rescue in view of the fact that the Coast Guard has been stood down; if the river rescue will now be the first port of call of An Garda Síochána in the event of a marine casualty situation or emergency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49259/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Under the National Search and Rescue Plan, An Garda Síochána (AGS) has responsibility for Search and Rescue Operations on inland rivers and lakes and tasking the Search and Rescue Units they have available to them. Where Coast Guard boats are stationed on or near Rivers they respond to incidents on the river when requested by the AGS through the Marine Resce Coordination Centre.  These assets are currently unavailable to the AGS. The RNLI have two stations on the Shannon in Lough Ree and Lough Derg which are coordinated by the Coast Guard for inland waterways Search and Rescues missions on the Shannon.