Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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67. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the main terms of the contract (details supplied) for the provision of search and rescue services to the Irish Coast Guard; the timeframe for this contract; if he will seek to amend, change or alter any of these terms in the renewal of this contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35075/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The current helicopter service contract between the then Minister for Transport and CHC Ireland DAC commenced on 1st July 2012 for a period of 10 years. It contains an option to extend for a period(s) up to a further 3 years. The contract has been extended initially for one year to July 2023 to facilitate the procurement of a new service in accordance with Public Spending Code requirements and a seamless transition from one service to another.

The Procurement process has begun for the new Search and Rescue Aviation contract. KPMG have been appointed to carry out the detailed business/economic assessment in line with the requirements of the Public Spending Code which will determine the scope, nature and procurement strategy for the new service. All options are and will be reviewed and the outcome of the business case will go to Government early in Q3 2021. Once this step is taken, a tender should issue shortly thereafter.

The current status of the project can be referenced in the Published eTenders update on eTenders and our SAR Webpage.