As Minister of State with responsibility for international and road transport, logistics, rail and ports, I welcome the opportunity to participate in this debate on the new Coast Guard aviation service. The Irish Coast Guard search and rescue, SAR, aviation services are provided under a contract that is currently transitioning to Bristow Ireland Limited, BIL. The previous contractor, CHCI, had operated the service since 2012. On 30 May 2023, the Government approved the decision to award a contract for provision of the next national SAR aviation service to Bristow Helicopters. The decision to award the next contract for the delivery of an enhanced contract specification followed a comprehensive and robust public procurement process, which was undertaken fully in accordance with all national and EU procurement rules. Bristow Ireland was established in August 2020 and is a subsidiary of Bristow Group Incorporated, a US-based multinational company. Bristow Group Incorporated currently operates similar contracts for SAR services for Governments in the UK and the Netherlands, and it also has extensive experience in supporting the oil and gas business internationally. The total cost of the new contract, signed on 11 August 2023, for the standard ten-year contract term for the rotary wing element, plus a five-year minimum term for the fixed wing element, amounts to €816 million, including VAT. The Minister has the discretion to extend both the rotary and fixed wing elements to a maximum of 13 years. The new enhanced contract specification provides for the operation of six AW 189 helicopters, five of which are newly built and have already been accepted into service by Bristow, with the sixth helicopter scheduled to enter service in September of this year. In addition, for the first time, the new contract includes a fixed wing element, which will be delivered by 2Excel Ireland, subcontractors to BIL, using two King Air aircraft. The fixed wing service, which recently commenced operations, is a notable addition to the State, enhancing the Coast Guard’s SAR capabilities, including inland and maritime, provision of “top cover” communications for longer-range helicopter missions, an air-droppable life raft capability, maritime environmental protection measures, including investigation of pollution and ship casualty reports, and capacity to transport up to three walk-on patients for emergency national or international transfers. The new integrated aviation service will enhance the Coast Guard’s ability to deliver on its core services, including maritime and inland search and rescue, conduct maritime environmental monitoring, including pollution checks, provide aeromedical supports to the HSE and the National Ambulance Service, including helicopter emergency medical support and inter-hospital transfers, provide day and nighttime aeromedical support to the offshore island communities and provide other aviation support to State organisations. The new contract also provides improved crew accommodation facilities and enhanced mission management technology. The regulatory certifications secured in 2024 included approval to conduct helicopter emergency medical services, HEMS. In April of this year, BIL was notified by the IAA that the stretcher in use by Bristow Ireland was not yet fully certified for HEMS activity. I understand the IAA directive relates only to the use of stretchers on board HEMS missions and the decision, therefore, has no impact on the delivery of primary Coast Guard aviation services, most notably search and rescue activities. This temporary HEMS stretcher restriction only applies to the Shannon base and the Coast Guard continues to provide nationwide HEMS support to the HSE and the NAS from its bases at Sligo, Waterford and Dublin. I understand Bristow has identified a replacement solution and expects this issue to be resolved shortly.

Sentiment score: 0.29

Following an engagement process with both contractors, the dates of transfer for the remaining three bases have been revised, as follows: Weston, 1 July 2025; Sligo, 15 December 2025; and Waterford, 31 January 2026. I reiterate that the Department of Transport is prioritising the safe and effective transition of this aviation contract without interruption of service and is ensuring that the two contracted operators, CHCI and BIL, are providing sufficient capacity, expertise and resources to maintain safe search and rescue operations on a 24-7 basis across all areas of the country throughout this process. The Department is engaged with both contractors to facilitate revised transition timelines. As I stated, the transition timeline following engagement and agreement between the two operators has been extended to February 2026 at no cost to the Exchequer. The operation of four bases provides resilience for service delivery so that when individual bases become temporarily unavailable, the workload is shared among the other bases, with the specific requirements for each mission being assessed as they arise. In the case of both contracts, the availability of any base can range from full availability to partial availability or temporary availability. The new contract operated by Bristow Ireland will increase the capacity and capability of the Coast Guard to provide a range of essential services that are of strategic importance to the State, including maritime and inland search and rescue, environmental monitoring and aeromedical support. I recognise the critical importance of the service to our offshore islands, which rely on the Irish Coast Guard to provide day and nighttime aeromedical support to these communities. The Department will not allow any risk to be taken in a rush to meet contractual deadlines. The safety of the crew is the overarching priority. I reiterate that during this transition phase, a continued safe, efficient and effective aviation service is the overarching priority for the Government.

Sentiment score: 0.49

I doubt it.

Sentiment score: -0.36

I thank Deputy Kelly for raising this issue. I am from the most beautiful place in Galway. It is a very rural area called Belclare. The Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, Deputy Connolly, is laughing at me. It is beautiful but there is scarcely a taxi or hackney there either. I appreciate the issue raised by Deputy Kelly and I thank him for raising it. I will read some of the reply and then I will speak to Deputy Kelly about it. Neither the Minister for Transport nor his Department are involved in the day-to-day operation of public transport, including with regard to small public service vehicles. The National Transport Authority is the independent regulator for licensing and enforcement for the SPSV industry under the consolidated taxi regulations. That being said, I want to clarify that the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, has taken over the brief for rural transport. He has visited many rural areas over the past few months. He recognises the crucial role played by local taxi and hackney services in combatting loneliness and isolation in rural areas, and their importance in enhancing tourism and hospitality offerings in local rural areas. Taxis, hackneys and local area hackneys have an important role to play in meeting travel demand. In recognition of this, the programme for Government commits to improving local taxi service provision. The NTA currently issues local area hackney licences where applicants can show there is a need for this part-time service and that it will not displace or replace current SPSV providers. These special licences are limited to a local area of operation, typically where an applicant resides, and applicants are not required to meet a few of the standard licence application requirements. For example, a resident of the area in respect of which the local area hackney licence is sought is not required to undertake the industry knowledge or area knowledge tests, and the licensing fees are significantly lower for the local area licence, at €50 per vehicle and €20 per driver. A condition of the local area licence is that only passengers within a designated range of 10 km can be picked up, as Deputy Kelly said, and a new fare may not be picked up at a drop-off point outside of that area. As Deputy Kelly stated, two licences are required. There is a licence for the vehicle, which is a three-year licence. There is also a licence to drive a local area hackney, which is obtainable from An Garda Síochána. This is not required if a person already holds a valid licence to drive SPSVs. As of 25 April, there are 22 licensed local area hackney vehicles and 19 licensed local area hackney drivers. The NTA launched and administered two local area hackney schemes in recent years, one in 2019 and another in 2023, to support and promote it. The take-up of the 2019 pilot was very disappointing with only two of the 15 locations taking it up. The subsequent impact of Covid on the industry in 2020 impacted pilot operations. A further pilot was undertaken in 2023. This was launched in January 2023 in 21 locations and provided a grant of €6,000. Notwithstanding significant work by the NTA, just two operators were licensed. The issue of rural transport services is an ongoing focus for the Department. It is something that I, the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, have already discussed. We must look at the issue in depth to see how we can have a system whereby people will be attracted to take up this local area hackney service. Deputy Kelly mentioned some ideas. I am willing to engage with him further in this regard because, at the end of the day, we want to achieve a result rather than talking in five years' time about how it is still failing.

Sentiment score: 0.14

The Deputy and I are on the one page. Complication in a system can create a lot of paperwork and problems, and it can create little by way of results. We need to have a serious look at how we are doing the business here. We must ensure we are not displacing existing taxi services, as the Deputy said. They must also make a living. It is a case of going back to first principles and seeing where the demand is, seeing where exactly we can make it work, and rotate it around having a number of drivers available for a car. We must also bring in community involvement and community groups. This is important. People's lifestyles and the way they socialise in rural areas has changed. The pub trade has changed. We will have to take all of this in the round. I know of people who would like to get a taxi at certain times during the day or night. They certainly will not get them at night but they may get them during the day. There is an issue there. This is a matter we will go back to following this debate. I will speak to the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and to the officials about this issue and we will see where we can bring it. As I have said, the idea is to provide a service that is workable and uncomplicated because this is what works best. I thank the Deputy.

Sentiment score: 0.13

I thank the Deputy for raising this important question. The core principle of progressing disability services, PDS, is to achieve fairer and more equitable access to services for all children with disabilities based on their needs. This includes access to school-based therapy supports for children attending special schools in the country, including in Cork. The Minister fully acknowledges the frustrations faced by families of children in special schools and the urgent need for therapy provision within special schools. To progress the reinstatement of health and social care supports, which were historically provided in some special schools in the State, funding for an additional 224 whole-time equivalent, WTE, posts was provided by Government across 2021 and 2022. The HSE has advised that just over 155 of these WTE posts have been filled. While some services have been reinstated, progress has been affected by the international shortage of health and social care professionals. In August 2024, Government agreed to support 16 schools to join the special schools' pilot for enhanced in-school therapy supports during the 2024-2025 academic year. The pilot is delivered by the children’s disability network teams, led by the Health Service Executive and its funded agencies, in selected special schools in Cork, Dublin and Galway and is supported by the National Council for Special Education, NCSE. This pilot aims to provide an integrated model of service, ensuring all stakeholders, including special schools, have relevant input and, through effective governance mechanisms, are able to verify that additional resources are implementing the required level of service for children and their families. Under phase 1 of the pilot, the HSE advises that all four schools in the Cork area have filled the therapy posts assigned through the pilot. Under phase 2, both Cork schools in this phase have filled all therapy posts allocated as part of the pilot. Under the 2025 programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, there is a commitment to introduce a national therapy service in education, commencing in special schools and subsequently extending it to schools with special classes and mainstream provision. This service will be delivered by the NCSE, building on its work previously completed through the educational therapy support service. It is intended that the national therapy service will commence in some special schools at a later stage in the 2025-2026 school year. The Department of Education and Youth has advised that further roll-out of the service will occur on a phased basis, with a wider roll-out commencing in the 2026-2027 school year. The Department of Education and Youth has advised that, initially, the service will include the disciplines of occupational therapy and speech and language therapy. Over time, further disciplines such as physiotherapy may be included. Officials in the Department of Education and Youth have begun engagement with relevant Departments and agencies on the design, timelines, alignment, integrated working and costings involved to deliver this ambitious programme of work. Regarding the provision of private therapies for children with disabilities, the Government and the Minister remain supportive of the use of available private capacity, and the funding of same. The HSE will also continue to prioritise the recruitment of remaining therapists to work in special schools, as approved and resourced by Government in 2021 and 2022. I assure the House that this Government will continue to diligently engage with the HSE, service providers and families to ensure children with disabilities receive the support and services they require.

Sentiment score: 0.44

I thank the Deputy and welcome his comments. I agree with him that we need a roadmap to see where we are going. It cannot be spaced out over time because children with disabilities need supports now. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, and the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, are working closely together to ensure this is rolled out as quickly as possible. Despite all of these challenges, work is ongoing to develop services that can meet the needs of families and children with complex needs, including those attending special schools. The collaborative work to date between stakeholders to ensure the effective delivery of the special schools pilot is acknowledged. This has enabled the recruitment of all posts for Cork, which the Deputy mentioned. Furthermore, the National Disability Authority has been commissioned by the HSE to undertake an independent evaluation of the special schools pilot with a full report expected late in the summer of this year. The results of this evaluation will be used to identify how the initial phase of the pilot has gone and to improve further delivery. In addition, the cross-sectoral group on disability issues for children and young people, which provides leadership and supports decision-making for key Departments and agencies, will have a role in the delivery of disability services. This has been jointly re-established by the Departments of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. and the Education. The cross-sectoral group engages on and directs key strategic policy issues that arise. This includes supporting the special schools pilot steering group, which has been incorporated into a subgroup. The Minister wishes to restate her full commitment and that of the Department and the HSE to pursuing all avenues to ensure that access to school-based therapists for children with special needs in Cork and across the country is a priority.

Sentiment score: 0.40

I thank both Deputies for raising this matter. I understand their frustration. This has been going on a while. I assure the Deputies that this Government is committed to working with all stakeholders to see the Waterford Airport project to lengthen and widen the runway progress. In line with this and on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, I welcome the opportunity to update the House on the topic this evening. As the Deputies will be aware, Waterford Airport is owned by Waterford Regional Airport plc. As well as general aviation services, the airport operates as an Irish Coast Guard search and rescue base, which is currently under a commercial contract with CHC Ireland. Unlike the local authorities in Waterford, Kilkenny and Wexford, the Department of Transport does not have a shareholding in the airport company nor does it have a role in the commercial operation or future business planning of the airport. Having said that, Waterford Airport was eligible for Exchequer funding from the Department under the most recent regional airports programme, which was for the period from 2015 to 2019. However, following a steady decline in passenger traffic from a peak of 143,000 passengers in 2008, scheduled passenger services at the airport ceased in 2016, with only 15,000 passengers that year. National policy on regional airports has always been focused on optimising conditions for connectivity. As a result, Exchequer funding is contingent on airports operating scheduled passenger services as part of that programme. Without scheduled passenger services, Waterford Airport’s operations fail to meet the connectivity objective associated with Government policy on funding of regional airports. However, it is recognised that Waterford Airport has faced serious financial challenges. I understand that, to avoid liquidation, the airport sought emergency subvention from the Department totalling €1.5 million over the period 2017 to 2020. This Exchequer funding was provided on an exceptional basis to allow time for the airport to consider future options, including a proposal to expand its runway. It was 2018 when Waterford Airport brought forward this proposal. Following this, in June 2019, the Government gave approval in principle for an expression of support for the expansion proposal and to providing Exchequer funding of €5 million towards the project, which was then estimated to cost €12 million. Government support at that time was not only contingent on the €2 million in local authority funding and €5 million in private investment funding necessary to complete the project being committed and any risks relating to cost escalation being borne by the non-State investors, but also on full details of the project being provided to the Department for appraisal. Despite engagement with the airport over the intervening period, this detail remained outstanding from Waterford Airport until 13 December 2023. I understand that the Department prioritised the necessary assessment of both the proposal and the significant additional documentation provided by the airport in response to queries raised by Department officials up until July 2024. The Deputies will be aware that this detail outlined that the project costings have increased substantially above the original estimate of €12 million to €27 million, deviating significantly from the original proposal. The Exchequer contribution now has risen from €5 million to €12 million. The assessment undertaken was in line with requirements under the Department's transport appraisal framework. This framework provides guidance to ensure investment schemes in the transport sector can comply with government infrastructure guidelines. While this assessment was submitted to the former Minister, Eamon Ryan, and the then Minister of State, Deputy Lawless, for review and consideration of next steps on 19 September 2024, next steps were not determined at that time. I understand that the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, is currently considering the next steps in this regard and is looking forward to positive engagement with Waterford Airport on this matter. Any potential Government support will be considered when this engagement and appraisal process is complete.

Sentiment score: 0.21

I thank the Deputies. I feel and hear their frustration. The programme for Government commits to working with all stakeholders to quickly progress the Waterford Airport project to lengthen and widen the runway, building on the previous Government. The Government recognises the huge value of the aviation sector in supporting international connectivity, economic development, and tourism via our airports. The Deputies will be aware that the infrastructure guidelines set out the value-for-money guidelines for the evaluation, planning and management of public investment projects. The arrangements apply to all public bodies and all bodies in receipt of Exchequer capital funding. Some may argue that given the level of private investment being proposed to support this development, such due diligence is not required by the State. However, the rationale for, and objective of, any prospective private investor investing in the airport is likely to differ from that of the Government. It is reasonable to expect that the State would have its investment protected also. Compliance with state aid rules on funding to regional airports must also be considered. I understand that the former Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy James Lawless, met with the airport management to discuss this matter. The current Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, has also had engagements with the Ministers of State, Deputies Mary Butler and John Cummins, on this issue and also looks forward to positive engagement with Waterford Airport on this matter. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, will be taking it up further.

Sentiment score: 0.19

No.

Sentiment score: -0.30

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. It is important to say that broader investment in harbour maintenance and refurbishment is typically funded directly by the responsible local authorities and port companies and through the fishery harbour and coastal infrastructure development programme managed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. As outlined in the programme for Government, the Government is fully committed to the protection and preservation of our maritime cultural heritage, as the Deputy has outlined. Work is under way within the National Monuments Service on a draft national strategy to protect Ireland's underwater cultural heritage, which is understood to include historic harbours, ports and jetties. It is anticipated that this will be ready for public consultation later this year. Ratification by Ireland of the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage is also under consideration. This is a key international instrument, which provides an agreed shared framework for co-operation among state parties with regard to maritime cultural heritage. I am aware of calls to restore historic harbour structures such as the sun shelter on the East Pier of Dún Laoghaire Harbour. I note that the primary responsibility in this case rests with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council as both the owner of the structure and the responsible planning authority. However, my Department funds a range of relevant grant schemes intended to support local authorities and other owners in these circumstances. Where the structures concerned are protected or are within a designated architectural conservation area, the built heritage investment scheme, BHIS, and the historic structures fund, HSF, can provide support for repair and conservation works. The BHIS provides grants of between €2,500 and €50,000, while the HSF provides funding of between €50,000 and €200,000 for works at a larger scale. These schemes are now closed for 2025. The application window for the 2026 BHIS is expected to open in July 2025, with the HSF to follow in December 2025. Where the structure in question is an archaeological monument, the community monuments fund, CMF, can provide grants of up to €100,000 for conservation works. The CMF is now closed for 2025. The application window for the 2026 CMF is expected to open in November this year. Over the last three years, these conservation schemes have allocated more than €50 million for works to historic buildings, public realm, and monuments. Projects awarded funding under the schemes include conservation of the metal man beacon in Rosses Point, County Sligo and the Knight’s Pier in Belmullet, County Mayo. In addition to the conservation schemes described above and the fishery harbour and coastal infrastructure development programme, local authorities seeking funding should, depending on the exact circumstances of the structures and buildings in question, engage with the urban regeneration and development fund, the rural regeneration and development fund, the LEADER programme, the THRIVE programme, and Údarás na Gaeltachta funding schemes.

Sentiment score: 0.30

I thank the Deputy for raising his important points and for his suggestions. Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000 sets out arrangements for the protection of our architectural heritage. While the planning authority is responsible for adding buildings and features to the record of protected structures, primary responsibility for preventing endangerment of protected structures then rests with the owner overseen by the planning authority. As I set out previously, there is a wide range of supports available to help local authorities and owners to discharge this responsibility. There may be some parts of Dún Laoghaire Harbour that should be placed on the record of protected structures. The local council is best placed to assist with that. Investment in our built and archaeological heritage delivers broad public benefits and as the Deputy rightly noted, enhances the character and amenity of our cities, towns, villages, and landscapes, and brings back into use buildings and other assets which currently lie vacant, closed or in a dangerous place. As Minister of State, I will endeavour to maintain and enhance this investment to the greatest extent possible and to ensure that funding is directed where those initiatives which deliver best public value. I take on board what the Deputy has said. I will go back to my officials and see how we can enhance grants that are there or focus a bit more on the heritage of the area.

Sentiment score: 0.42