Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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42. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 290 of 3 November 2020, the reason the Air Corps were not awarded the SAR service contract (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40521/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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To be clear, there has been no decision to award the next SAR contract. The process has however commenced to consider options for the next Search and Rescue Aviation contract as the existing contract comes to an end over the coming years. Some initial appraisal work has commenced around options which the Deputy has referred to in the details supplied. A more detailed business case is currently being prepared as part of the Public Spending Code process. This will be brought to Government early in 2021, after which a formal tender procedure will commence. The Department of Defence and the Air Corps are members of the Steering Group, charied by the Director of the Coast Guard, charged with managing this process. The current status of the procurement process can be referenced on eTenders and a dedicated webpage on Gov.ie - hyperlink here: .