Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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165. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which the Air Corps and Naval Service continue to cooperate in air and sea rescue missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13114/18]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The Defence Organisation provides a broad range of services in accordance with its primary security role while it also undertakes a diverse range of non-security-related tasks.

With reference to Search and Rescue, since 2004 the Irish Coast Guard has overall responsibility for the provision of Search and Rescue services within the Irish Search and Rescue region. Both the Naval Service and the Air Corps provide support to the Irish Coast Guard in maritime Search and Rescue operations on an “as available” basis. A Service Level Agreement is in place setting out their roles and responsibilities in this regard.

The Defence Organisation will continue to provide support, as available, to the Irish Coast Guard in respect of Coast Guard Search and Rescue operations.