By Dan Walsh
There are serious concerns across Co. Wexford that the Coast Guard Waterford Airport-based Rescue 117 helicopter service may be stood down for up to six months to facilitate new training regimes as a new tender has been accepted to take charge of operating the national search and rescue service.
In a statement on social media Wexford Deputy Verona Murphy has announced that she is supported by fellow Independent Deputies Matt Shanahan, Michael Lowry and Cathal Berry in writing to the Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan TD to confirm and ensure that Rescue 117 will not be stood down!
The Irish Examiner (January 24th, 2022) reported “the fear is that the base (Waterford) will be lost under a new contract worth hundreds of millions of euro for the renewal of aviation services for the Irish Coast Guard. The current bases from which these search and rescue helicopters launch are in Shannon, Sligo, Dublin, and Waterford. However, the tender for the €800 million contract states that there should be a “minimum” of three helicopters included in the new deal; this has prompted fears that Waterford could lose its helicopter base, which would have ramifications for the south and south-east region.”
The R117 helicopter operates out of Waterford, and its crews had a busy year in 2021; typically it responds to around 700 calls a year but that increased to more than 900 last year. The service covers the south-east and the large coastal area around Co. Wexford from Courtown to Rosslare and the Hook Head area and it would be catastrophic if the region was to lose this vital service.
In response to a query from the Irish Examiner, the Department of Transport said the Government agreed to begin the formal procurement process for a new Coast Guard aviation service.
“The existing helicopter service contract with CHCI commenced on July 1st 2012, for a period of 10 years, with an option to extend for a further three years. The contract has since been extended to July 2024.”
WexfordLocal.com 