Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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438. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if significant funding can now be provided to fund Kerry mountain rescue, who provide such a vital service to the State and it’s visitors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19735/25]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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The Department of Transport is responsible for administrative arrangements for the “Coastal and Inshore, Mountain and Cave Rescue Grant Current” on behalf of the Irish Coast Guard (IRCG). This is an annual maintenance grant to support the search and rescue activities of the ten Mountain and Cave Rescue Teams who are constituent members of Mountain Rescue Ireland (MRI). They are tasked by An Garda Síochána and frequently work alongside other search and rescue organisations in the course of training and missions.

The grant also provides support for eleven Community Rescue Boats Ireland (CRBI) units, which constitute the ‘Coastal and Inshore’ part of the grant’s title, these are voluntary rescue boat units that undertake to benchmark their training and activities against IRCG Boat Unit standards and may be tasked by the IRCG to assist in the event of a Search and Rescue.

Unfortunately, the Department is not in a position to provide additional funding to Kerry Mountain Rescue under 2025 budget allocations. The pre-funding grant allocation for the unit has already been submitted and approved by Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for 2025.

The following schemes have provided various types of funding in the past and we would advise to check with them for any current or future allocations:

DRCD

Department of Rural and Community Development’s (DRCD) CLÁR scheme.

Pobal

The Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO). Information on this programme and the eligibility requirements are available at the following site: www.pobal.ie/programmes/scheme-to-support-national-organisations-ssno-2022-2025/.

LEADER

LEADER Programme Funding

County Council

Registration with the Public Participation Network (PPN) which is organised through the County Councils. Among other benefits, the PPN send regular updates to their member with notifications of current grant schemes.