Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has told the Dail that he anticipates that all four search and rescue bases in Ireland will be maintained.
It comes amid a wave of nationwide concerns regarding the potential losses of services in various parts of the country.
Concerns have been voiced locally regarding the future of Rescue 117 with South East Oireachtas members meeting earlier this week to form a cross-party stance on the need for retention of services.
Sligo TD Marian Harkin queried the position of the existing Rescue 118 base in Sligo earlier today, and Deputy Varadkar responded that while a contractual tender process is underway - he remains confident that the existing four bases will remain in situ.
"We would anticipate that the outcome will be that there will continue to be four bases, and it will be the same four bases. Waterford, Sligo, Cork and Dublin. There is a contractual process underway - it does have to follow some procedure. I hope that can give some people reassurance that the government is very happy with the services at the moment, and we would not like to see them diminished."
