Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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188. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he can provide a briefing on the reason search and rescue crews who commence work at 1300 hours for a continuous 24hr duty period, have their hours of work artificially reduced to 16.5 hours (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60718/25]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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Coast Guard SAR helicopter services are provided under contract that is currently transitioning from CHCI to Bristow Ireland Limited (BIL).

Coast Guard Aviation services are regulated by the Irish Aviation Authority. My Department does not have any role in the regulatory oversight of the contracted service providers. Many of the personnel previously employed by CHCI have or will prior to completion of transition take up the option of joining BIL Ireland.

Similar to the previous contract, crews operate 24 hr shift patterns. In addition to regulated Flight Time Limitation requirements, both entities are required to operate a Fatigue Risk Management System, as per IAA regulatory requirements. In order to enhance overall flight crew safety, the new contract obliges ‘on duty’ flight crews to remain on base for their full tour of duty, for which suitable rest and sleeping accommodation is provided.

I understand that the new contractor, Bristow Ireland, following contract award concluded framework agreements with the employee representative organisations, FORSA, UNITE and IALPA.

BIL subsequently concluded collective bargaining agreements with the three representative organisations. BIL continues to actively engage with the cohort of CHCI staff who have yet to transfer, to support seamless transfer to the new contractor as the remaining bases transition.