Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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175. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the training, seamanship and experience undertaken by the Irish Coast Guard that equates to that of the Naval Service; and if there are plans to bring both in line, as they provide equally important services to the State. [31467/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The volunteers of the Irish Coast Guard are tasked to respond to emergencies at boat stations around the coast. The boats are typically between 4.8 metres and 9 metres and provide an in-shore rescue capability. While there may be similarities and equivalences in their training, the organisations serve very different but vital purposes for the State, operate different equipment and the IRCG boat units are made up of volunteers. In that context, there is no evident rationale to bring the training requirements and associated programmes of both organisations into line.