Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent)
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87. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has considered the possibility of the Air Corps providing helicopter air sea rescue services as part of a national tender soon to be published; if his attention has been drawn to the proposed costs of €70 million per annum; if he has considered either solely or in discussion with the Department of Transport, the capital assets required or those available to the Defence Forces to commit to such a proposal; if a cost benefit analysis been considered by his Department or of the Department of Transport to allow the Army and Air Corps services engage on such a proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32094/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Since 2004 the Irish Coast Guard has had overall responsibility for the provision of Search and Rescue services within the Irish Search and Rescue domain. The Irish Coast Guard fall under the remit of the Minister for Transport. From within the Defence Organisation, both the Naval Service and the Air Corps provide support to the Irish Coast Guard in maritime Search and Rescue operations on an “as available” basis. A Service Level Agreement is in place setting out their roles and responsibilities in this regard.

The current contract for the Search and Rescue Helicopter service is between the Minister of Transport and a civil helicopter operation, CHC Ireland DAC. The contract commenced on 1st July 2012 for a period of 10 years, with an option to extend for a further 3 years.

A SAR Aviation Steering Group has been set up under the auspices of the Department of Transport and led by the Irish Coast Guard to manage the procurement of the next SAR aviation service. Personnel from my Department and members of the Air Corps are key stakeholder members of the

Steering Group progressing this contract.

I would like to confirm that the Defence Organisation is supportive of the Department of Transport’s programme to put in place the Next Generation Search and Rescue Contract. A strategic assessment and preliminary appraisal document in line with the Public Service Code was agreed by the Steering Group and brought to Government for information in July this year. This included an appraisal of various service delivery options, including where the state assumed full responsibility for the service, either through the Air Corps or a dedicated IRCG Aviation Branch. Both were ruled out for a variety of reasons but notably the risks to the state and questions around potential affordability and deliverability.