John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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431. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide details of the search and rescue helicopter contract agreed between his Department and a private contractor out of Weston Airport in Dublin; where this critical defence asset will be located, that is at Casement or Weston; furthermore to outline what happens the helicopter once the contract once has expired; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41822/25]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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As Minister of State for International & Road Transport, Logistics, Rail & Ports Seán Canney T.D, has responsibility for the Irish Coast Guard and the SAR Aviation Contract.

The question has been accepted by my Department on transfer from the Department of Defence.

Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) Helicopter Search and Rescue (SAR) services are provided under contract, which is currently transferring from CHCI to Bristow Ireland Limited. The new contract provides for the operation of six AW 189 helicopters, five of which are newly built and already in service in Ireland. The sixth helicopter is scheduled to arrive in September.

The new contract provides for 24/7 operation of four IRCG SAR Search and Rescue Helicopter Bases located at Sligo, Shannon, Waterford, and Dublin (Weston) and for the first time a Fixed Wing (FW) service also located at Shannon. On 1 July, Bristow Ireland commenced operations at Weston airport to be followed by Sligo and Waterford in December and January next. As with the existing contract the provider for the service’s retains responsibility for the supply, operation, and maintenance of the helicopter fleet throughout the lifetime of the contract. Given the contractual arrangement, my Department does not have any responsibility for the direct management of these assets.

The Coast Guard helicopters are utilised to provide inland, coastal, and offshore SAR services, maritime environmental including pollution monitoring as well as provision of aviation support to other State entities including An Garda Síochána, HEMS, interhospital transfer support and critical care retrieval services to HSE/NAS, day and nighttime aeromedical support to the offshore island communities and for the first time an aerial firefighting capability in support of National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management.