Written answers
Tuesday, 13 June 2023
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
Departmental Contracts
Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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282. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if, as part of the Irish Coast Guard search and rescue aviation contract offer to a company (details supplied) consideration has been given by his Department to the important role which Rescue 118, which is based in Strandhill, County Sligo, provides the people in the north west of Ireland as a critical patient safety transfer service between hospitals in the region; if a decision is being made to change the current Sikorsky S-92 helicopters that operate the service to other models; if so, if they have the required helicopter capacity size to enable Rescue 118 to provide this vital service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27565/23]
Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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283. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if as part of the Irish Coast Guard search and rescue aviation contract offer to a company (details supplied); if, under this proposed new contract the continuity of Rescue 118 as a critical patient transfer service for the north west has been agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27566/23]
Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 282 and 283 together.
The Government recently announced that it has accepted a recommendation to offer the next Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) search & rescue aviation (SAR) contract to Bristow Ireland Limited.
The contract will provide for the day and night-time operation of four helicopter bases in Sligo, Shannon, Waterford and Dublin. In addition to the helicopter service, the new Coast Guard aviation service will, for the first time, also include a fixed wing aircraft element.
The new IRCG aviation service contract allows the Coast Guard to fully meet its obligations as prescribed in the National SAR Plan, the National Oil/ HNS Contingency Plan and its capacity to support other State agencies, in particular inland SAR support to An Garda Síochána, and provision of Air Ambulance services to HSE including day and night support to the island communities.
As the procurement process has now entered the required legal ‘Standstill Period’, my Department is not in a position to comment further. As soon as the contract has been finalised and awarded, further information will be provided.
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