Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

195. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on whether the Air Corps currently retains the ability to carry out SAR operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37429/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 with the Irish Coast Guard setting out agreed roles and responsibilities in this regard.

In terms of the Air Corps' existing role in the aviation aspect of SAR, services currently provided by the Air Corps to the Coast Guard on an “as available” basis include; Search & Rescue, search support in a number of settings including the potential to act as on-scene air Co-ordinator if required; Island Medevacs when the IRCG are unable to respond; Maritime counter pollution patrolling & monitoring; and Maritime surveillance, among other taskings.  

There is an ongoing project under the remit of the Department of Transport, to consider, develop and bring to fruition a new Marine Search and Rescue aviation contract for future service provision.  In this context a strategic assessment and preliminary appraisal was completed and brought to Government for information in July this year. This assessment included an appraisal of various service delivery options, including where the state assumed full responsibility for the service, through the Air Corps . This option was ruled out for a variety of reasons but notably the risks to the state and questions around potential affordability and deliverability.

I agree with the strategic assessment and preliminary appraisal and I do not see the Air Corps taking full responsibility for SAR services in Ireland’s search and rescue domain.  However I would like to explore further the option of the Air Corps providing some element of the SAR aviation service, given their historical role in this area. There are capacity issues in the Air Corps.  Capacity in terms of personnel, training, equipment, infrastructure etc would have to be built.  Furthermore, I am well aware of the challenges the Air Corps experienced in the past in providing this service and any exploration of them providing some element of the service would need to take into account their existing roles,  the current challenges in delivering those roles and the feasibility of building the additional capacity in a relatively short timeframe.  

I have asked my officials to engage further with the Department of Transport, to explore the option of the Air Corps providing some element of the next generation SAR aviation service while at the same time ensuring that the service meets domestic and international obligations for search and rescue and represents value for money for the State.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

196. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the Air Corps has investigated the possibility of providing top cover for SAR operations and other fixed wing services to the Irish Coast Guard and HSE on an on-call basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37430/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Whilst the Defence Forces are not a primary response agency for non-security related emergencies, as defined in the Framework for Major Emergency Management, they provide the fullest possible assistance to the appropriate Lead Department in the event of a natural disaster or emergency situation in its Aid to Civil Authority (ATCA) role. 

As part of the Defence Organisation, the Air Corps provides a broad range of services in accordance with its primary security role.  The Air Corps also undertakes a diverse range of non-security-related tasks on an ‘as available’ basis, including the provision of aviation supports to the Irish Coast Guard and air ambulance services to the Health Service Executive (HSE), using aircrafts from both the fixed-wing and rotary elements of the Air Corps fleet as required.  These supports are underpinned by agreed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Service Level Agreements (SLAs).

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Joint Task Force was established to coordinate the Defence Forces contribution to the whole-of-Government COVID-19 response while retaining, at all times, a contingent capacity to provide Aid to the Civil Power support. Given the unique situation arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, an additional PC-12 NG aircraft was purchased to provide immediate additional fixed wing capacity.

This aircraft provides the Air Corps with a further agile resource to service urgent requests from the HSE and other agencies of the State, including the Irish Coast Guard, as an 'as available' basis at the request of the lead department or agency.