Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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312. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the Air Corps can have full responsibility for search and rescue services in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41084/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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There is currently a project ongoing 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.

The Defence Organisation is supportive of the Department of Transport’s programme to put in place the Next Generation SAR Aviation Contract. A strategic assessment and preliminary appraisal document in line with the Public Service Code was brought to Government for information in July. The preliminary appraisal 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 Irish Coast Guard 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.

I agree with the strategic assessment and preliminary appraisal mentioned above and I do not see the Air Corps taking full responsibility for SAR services in Ireland’s search and rescue domain. I will not speculate beyond the medium term. However I would like to explore further the option of the Air Corps providing some element of the SAR aviation service as part of the next genration SAR service provision, given their historical role in this area. Having said that 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 and the current challenges in delivering those roles.

I can confirm that 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.  This engagement is ongoing.