Report backs £4m rescue helicopter service in Dublin

A GOVERNMENT report on east coast search and rescue is to recommend leasing a medium load Dublin based helicopter at an estimated cost of £4 million a year.

The report, which is due to be published by the Minister for the Marine and Defence, Mr Barrett, urges provision of a 24 hour, all weather, all risk service because of the "casualty potential" posed by increased aviation and passenger ferry traffic over the Irish Sea. The craft should have a range of 200 nautical miles, it says.

The craft may be provided by commercial contract, and may or may not be flown by the Air Corps - with additional fixed wing aircraft support. An initial proposal to tender for a 2 1/2 to five year contract for a helicopter to meet marine emergency needs has already been placed by the Minister in the EU Journal.

The report comes a year after the death of a Wexford fisherman off Howth in the Scarlet Buccaneer accident, which highlighted the lack of night time helicopter cover on the east coast. Since then, the Air Corps has been asked to provide enhanced cover with a Dauphin, given the daytime limitations of its fleet of Alouettes.

Commissioned by the Minister, Mr Barrett, after the Scarlet Buccaneer, the report was compiled by a review group chaired by Capt Liam Kirwan, director of the Irish Marine Emergency Service (IMES). Many of its recommendations echo those first made in the 1990 Doherty report on air/sea rescue, which led to the establishment of a commercially run medium range helicopter on the west coast.

A key recommendation in that 1990 report - that two medium range helicopters be bought for use by the Air Corps - has not so far been acted upon. However, the State has invested more than £35 million in improved air/sea rescue during the pact six years and the voluntary Royal National Lifeboat Institution has also extended its service significantly.

The five year old Shannon helicopter service provided by Irish Helicopters is to transfer to a cheaper Scottish company, Bond Helicopters, in January, and the Department of the Marine believes that the £1.8 million annual savings accrued can be used for the east coast. Should a commercial craft be placed in Dublin it is expected the Air Corps Dauphin at Baldonnel would be relocated to Cork or the south east, to complement the Dauphin at Finner, Co Donegal.

Other improvements to search and rescue, including better communications, marine safety awareness programmes, and more cooperation in safety training, may also be carried out if the report is accepted by the Minister.

The Air Corps, which is the subject of a Price Waterhouse consultancy review, is concerned at any move to privatise any of its functions further.