Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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166. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will clarify the situation in relation to the awarding of a State contract for the provision of air sea rescue cover; the companies currently tendering for such contracts; the cost of the full contract; the body and the persons responsible for deciding the winning bid; the criteria being used; if a company (details supplied) remains in the process; if minimum standards of staffing, aircraft and so on are stipulated in the contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59923/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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On 27 July 2021, the Government agreed to commence the formal procurement process for a new Coast Guard aviation service. The decision was based on a detailed appraisal and business case prepared in accordance with the Public Spending Code.

The procurement process will will be undertaken in line with the Government Decision of 27 July 2021 and with EU procurement law, most notably European Union (Award of Public Authority Contracts) Regulation 2019 (Statutory Instrument No. 284/2016.

The project will also follow the governance structures as set out in the Public Spending Code, which will ensure Government approval is sought at key stage gates. The Public Spending Code requires there to be an Approving Authority and a Sponsoring Agency for the appraisal and delivery of public investment projects. For this project, the Government undertakes the role of the Approving Authority under the Code, while the Sponsoring Agency role will be undertaken by the Department of Transport.

The first stage of the process, the release of an Information Memorandum and a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire, will be undertaken shortly. This will set out certain criteria to determine which Operators have the capacity to perform the contract. Under stage 2 of the process, the Contracting Authority will issue a request for tenders setting out the minimum requirements and award criteria.

A project team has been assembled which includes expertise in Aviation, Procurement Law, Project Management and Financial advice. The team also includes senior officials from the Coast Guard/Department of Transport. The process is being overseen by an independent external process auditor, who is providing assurances that all is in order from a procurement compliance point of view.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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167. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the State regulatory body that is responsible for ensuring that companies operating services on behalf of the State in relation to air, sea rescue operations have fully qualified personnel to operate aircraft and other emergency vehicles; the oversights and safeguards this body has over the persons operating such contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59924/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) exercises safety oversight of the aviation Search and Rescue operator through its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) and a National Search & Rescue Approval. The role of the IAA concerning Search and Rescue covers both the aviation safety regulation and oversight of Search and Rescue operations performed by air, the operator, and the aircraft, as well as oversight and operational responsibility for Search and Rescue aviation coordination centres and sub-centres.

An AOC is a certificate that allows an operator to perform specific operations of commercial air transport and to obtain an AOC an operator must complete a thorough process to satisfy the IAA that it is competent to secure the safe operation of aircraft. The National Search & Rescue Approval provides for alleviation/exemptions that are necessary to operate outside of the requirements used to conduct commercial air transport without which some of the search and rescue operations would not be possible. There are safety cases (documented assurance of the achievement and maintenance of safety) for all alleviation/exemptions, and these are reviewed by the IAA on a yearly basis.

The IAA regularly audits the SAR operator on all aspects of its operation including its safety management system, assets, and personnel. The audits are based on compliance type assessment, as well as risk-based assessment.

As part of its oversight programme, the IAA will track how safety recommendations from the AAIU's Final Report into the R116 accident directed at the operator are addressed and ensure that they are appropriately implemented.

In terms of contract performance issues, contract changes, high level safety matters and any financial issues are managed through regular Contract Operation meetings between the Coast Guard and the operator’s management personnel.