Rescue 117 is to remain in Waterford, it's been confirmed.
The Department of Transport has announced that it will amend the tender specification for Search and Rescue (SAR) to reflect the existing configuration of four bases, of Waterford, Dublin, Shannon and Sligo.
This means that Rescue 117 will retain its base here, regardless of what company is successful in the procurement process for a new Coast Guard aviation service.
The process commenced last year following a Government Decision published in July 2021.
Concerns were raised that Waterford could lose out when the initial tender documents outlined a minimum of just three bases. Last week, the Transport Minister, Éamonn Ryan, had intimated that Waterford would be included but he would not guarantee it.
However, speaking to Déise Today this morning, Senator John Cummins said, "I understand, my government colleagues have approved at Cabinet this morning the inclusion of four specified bases in the upcoming tender that's going to be issued for the Search and Rescue services to the pre-qualified applicants."
In a statement issued this afternoon, the Department of Transport said it "will notify the market of an amendment to a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ), which was published by the Department on 20 December 2021. The PQQ will be amended to specify the number and location of Search and Rescue (SAR) bases to reflect the existing configuration, namely four bases at Dublin, Shannon, Sligo and Waterford."
The statement went on to say that the amendment "will ensure the delivery of wider Government policies concerning balanced and even distribution of State services and investment, particularly the needs of island and rural communities... The continuation of the current base configuration will reinforce the Coast Guard’s capability to meet its obligations in the National SAR Plan, the National Oil/ HNS Contingency Plan, and its capacity to support other State agencies, in particular inland SAR support to An Garda Síochána and provision of Air Ambulance services to HSE including day and night support to the island communities."
Details regarding the eTender procurement process can be found here.
