Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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284. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which the Air Corps continues to have available the necessary provisions to ensure an adequate search and rescue service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25465/21]

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 (SAR) services within the Irish Search and Rescue domain. The Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) 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 IRCG 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 a the Air Corps' current role in the aviation aspect of SAR, at request of the Irish Coast Guard, services currently provided by the Air Corps to the Coast Guard on an “as available” basis include; 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 and maritime counter pollution patrolling & monitoring, among other taskings.

At present the Defence Forces, including the Air Corps, are net contributors to Ireland's overall SAR effort and capabilities as and when requested by IRCG. As noted above, the provision of a marine aviation SAR service on a 24/7/365 basis is the responsibility of the Coast Guard.

My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible so as to enable the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service to carry out their roles as assigned by Government.