Don't sink by night off the South Coast

[Dohville]

Actually heard O'Shea on WLR yesterday on the issue.Its amazing how he manages to keep such a low profile but this rattled his cage.

Absconded, my point in referring to defence is that in my opinion resources arent put to optimal use there and could be employed better elsewhere.Multiply that budget to that of transport and you multiply the waste. Every dept is guilty and major reforms are needed.Your entitled to defend defence budget, but if your happy to accept FF got it right there why question how the transport minister deploys resources at his disposal or any other minister for that matter.Surely by your rationale on defence its hypocritical of you to tackle vested interests elsewhere

The Defence forces cut of the exchequer funds is relatively small when you compare it to other departments. 70% of the €1bn or so goes towards wages and pensions. The remainder is what keeps the DF going on a day to day basis. It is one of the most efficient departments, and has quietly and quickly adapted any public sector reforms suggested to it, while at the same time suffering a gradual reduction in staffing levels over the last 10 years.
The glaring waste of course is the use of the Air Corps as what is now almost exclusively a ministerial transport service.
When the Air Corps provided SAR, it was not unusual for an SAR aircraft, which had been rotated away from its job for maintenance, to be pressed into service so some non entity minister could be flown to a supermarket opening somewhere.
And enough has already been said about Mary Harneys abuse of Air Corps Aircraft.

This is where you see the real waste.

And let's not forget, the Air Corps provided the only Helicopter Search and rescue for this country from 1963, in aircraft which were only suitable for daytime use over land. When they introduced the 24 Hour service to waterford, the negligence of the government in providing them with an equally unsuitable aircraft, caused the unnecessary deaths of 4 men.
When a suitable aircraft was eventually leased for Sligo, the crew were expected to operate unsafe practices, which had the service not been passed on to the Civilian Operator, who do not operate this unsafe practice, more would have died.

But hey, isn't dying for your country something they are paid to do?

[Dohville]

Its Ok everyone, when you are floating off the south coast waiting for rescue, be heartened by the fact that the new machines will be faster than the old ones, and can fly through CLOUDS!

Do these people ever listen to themselves?

Dempsey defends Coast Guard decision
Monday, 22 March 2010 17:06

Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey has defended the Government's decision regarding the cover to be provided by the Coast Guard helicopter based at Waterford airport.

The Government is about to sign a new 10-year contract with a private company to provide helicopter Search and Rescue facilities at four bases around the country.

Speaking in Kilkenny, the minister confirmed the contract is worth €500m over the next ten years, with the annual spending on the service going up from €27m currently to €50m annually.


The search and rescue helicopter cover from the Waterford base is due to be reduced from 24 to 12-hour cover from 2013.

However, Minister Noel Dempsey said this is not a cut, that more money is being spent in total on the overall service and that there will still be 24-hour coverage for all the coastline.

He said the new contract involves the purchase of new helicopters, which he said will be better, will be 50% faster than the current ones and 'will be able to fly at night and in clouds unlike the current situation'.

He said it will be an improved service.

A number of people from coastal communities in the southeast travelled to Kilkenny to protest at the decision.

RTÉ News: Dempsey defends Coast Guard decision

[He3]

Flying through clouds Ted?

Sure that's mad!

[absconded]

Usual FF answer to bad management questions is "we're spending more so it's going to be better".. We heard boasts like this in Health, Transport, Prisons, Roads, Schools etc etc.

Fact is, there's no substitute for a 24 hour emergency heli service off our south coast. If it's worth putting there for 12 hours, it's worth putting there for 24 hours. Dempsey thinks sinkings only happen by day it seems.

[Grumpy Jack]

How the hell is it jumping from €27m a year to €50m a year, yet part of the service is being downgraded? That is some rise. What the hell are we paying for?

Remember, one of the reasons SAR was privatised in the first place was because of the botch job made by FF of new helicopters for the Air Corps after a typical cute hoor election stunt in 2002 went pearshaped amid threats of a court challenge.

The Air Corps are still waiting for their medium-lift helicopters but now we appear to be forking out for a private foreign company to enable that same company to provide our SAR service.

[dunno]

I have posted in the Foreign Affairs section, because it seems anything that happens past Welly Boot depth off the coast of this country is of little concern to our government.

As if it isn´t bad enough that the Naval Service is being threatened with the denial of replacement vessels for it´s clapped out fleet having already been stripped of it´s helicopter capability.

It is the intention of the government to abdicate responsibility for saving lives at sea by night off the South Coast. Surely if there is a need for a helicopter off the south coast based in Waterford, there is a need for it to operate by night also. Or do SAR operations only happen in daylight hours lately?


Transport.ie :: Press Release


Plans to downgrade Coastguard operations confirmed | BreakingNews.ie

I think the solution is as plain as day. Don't get into trouble at sea outside office hours, between 1 and 2, after 3, or around 10:30.

They won't stint with pay for the failed bank and its failed staff, but will risk lives with this false economy.

[Dohville]

How the hell is it jumping from €27m a year to €50m a year, yet part of the service is being downgraded? That is some rise. What the hell are we paying for?

Remember, one of the reasons SAR was privatised in the first place was because of the botch job made by FF of new helicopters for the Air Corps after a typical cute hoor election stunt in 2002 went pearshaped amid threats of a court challenge.

The Air Corps are still waiting for their medium-lift helicopters but now we appear to be forking out for a private foreign company to enable that same company to provide our SAR service.

Ironically, said private company intend using the Sikorsky S92 in the new 3 base contract. The same helicopter that the Air Corps were due to get, all those years ago.

[He3]

How the hell is it jumping from €27m a year to €50m a year, yet part of the service is being downgraded? That is some rise. What the hell are we paying for?

Remember, one of the reasons SAR was privatised in the first place was because of the botch job made by FF of new helicopters for the Air Corps after a typical cute hoor election stunt in 2002 went pearshaped amid threats of a court challenge.

The Air Corps are still waiting for their medium-lift helicopters but now we appear to be forking out for a private foreign company to enable that same company to provide our SAR service.

Beats me.

The Minister seems to think that there is no 'cut' - even though the new contract eliminates the present 24 hour cover out of Waterford - because it is costing us more.

Beats me again.

[absconded]

Beats me.

The Minister seems to think that there is no 'cut' - even though the new contract eliminates the present 24 hour cover out of Waterford - because it is costing us more.

Beats me again.

It's a hard circle to square indeed. And the DOT are refusing to make any comment. So no new information will be released until after the dust has settled.
Certainly something fishy about this deal. Difficult to see why the state is shirking it's responsibilities with regards lifesaving at sea etc, while the taxpayer is paying more money and we're being told it's an improved service.
It's all nuts, but this is Ireland under FF. Anything is possible. We've seen it all before.

[MsAnneThrope]

Looks like this dumb idea won't now go ahead. Fingers crossed...

[...] But the department has now revealed it is considering a new contract which would allow for a round-the-clock service to continue at all four bases across the country.

“Our post-tender negotiations with the preferred bidder which commenced yesterday have shown that we can achieve a major reduction in the cost difference between a full 24-hour service at four bases and the alternative option which would reduce cover at one of the bases to 12 hours,” Transport Minister Noel Dempsey said.

Breaking News March 30th 2010: Fishermen welcome rethink on helicopter cuts

Ironically a kayaker had to be rescued off the coast of Wexford this evening by the very same helicopter service that was scheduled to be cut back:

A man who was reported missing while kayaking off the coast of Co Wexford has been rescued by helicopter this evening.

The Waterford Rescue Helicopter rescued the man, who had been missing for a number of hours, off Slade, Co Wexford.

He has been transferred to Waterford Regional Hospital.

RTE March 30th 2010: Kayaker rescued off Wexford coast

A timely reminder to Mr. Dempsey no doubt...