Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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183. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the new contractor for the Coast Guard Rescue service based at a location (details supplied) will commence its operations; if there any delays in relation to the agreed startup date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4833/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The next contract for the provision of Coast Guard aviation services was awarded to Bristow Ireland Limited, a subsidiary of the multi-national Bristow Group. Arrangements for commencement of the new service are well underway. The transition date for the Sligo base is currently being finalised between the outgoing contractor (CHCI) and Bristow Ireland with arrangements for base handover at an advanced stage.

Sligo is one of the four Coast Guard aviation bases. The existence of four bases provides a resilience for service delivery and the workload is shared amongst the four bases with the specific requirements for each mission being assessed as they arise.

The new contract provides for a fleet of SIX AW189 Helicopters providing day and night-time services out of Sligo, Shannon, Waterford, and Dublin. In the coming months, for the first time, the service will be enhanced by the addition of a fixed wing Service based at Shannon.

The Department of Transport’s overarching objective is the safe and effective transition of the aviation contract without interruption to services and expects to see an orderly and seamless transfer of operations between both contractors.