In recent years a series of reports on the Air Corps has identified a need to replace or reinforce the existing short-range helicopter capability with medium-range craft for 24-hour search-and-rescue.
The first such recommendation was made by a government-appointed committee eight years ago. It noted that the Dauphin SA 365F with advanced avionics was a very good aircraft for short range missions, extending to 110 nautical miles in still air, but it was limited to 50 to 70 nautical miles at night and in bad weather.
It recommended purchase of two Sea Kings, given the preponderance of medium-range missions requiring RAF assistance off this coastline.
It is just over a year since Price Waterhouse consultants recommended an extensive re-equipment plan for the defence wing.
The Price Waterhouse plan recommended replacing the Dauphin, Alouette and Gazelle craft with four medium-range helicopters for search-and-rescue, along with eight Squirrel-type helicopters to assist the Army and Garda and other tasks.
A separate Price Waterhouse report on marine search-and-rescue performance, completed last December, found that the Air Corps and contracted medium-range helicopters at Shannon and Dublin were providing an "excellent" response to the highest standards.
So far, no Government decision has been taken on the successive equipment recommendations. The Price Waterhouse advice would have meant buying one medium-range helicopter with greater range and fuel capacity for training purposes. The consultants said acquiring four would let the Air Corps bid for the medium-range marine search and services at Shannon and Dublin which are now out to contract at an annual cost of £4.5 million.
Urging that this should take place sooner rather than later, the consultants pointed out that the Dauphins were due for refits in the years 2001 to 2003, and for ultimate replacement by 2016.
Introduced in 1986, the Dauphin fleet became an integral part of improved marine search-and-rescue in the wake of a campaign for improved west coast helicopter cover led by the Donegal fisheries researcher, Ms Joan McGinley.
The report carried out for government by former Garda commissioner, Mr Eamon Doherty, in 1991 echoed many of that lobby group's recommendations. A medium-range Sikorsky S-61 was provided on contract at Shannon by Irish Helicopters and subsequently by the Scottish company, Bond Helicopters. An Air Corps Dauphin was relocated to Finner camp in Co Donegal to service the north-west coast.
However, the east and south coasts were still regarded as exposed. In November 1995 the lack of night-flying capability on the east coast became an issue when a Wexford fisherman, Mr Timmy Currid, died after his vessel, the Scarlet Buccaneer, ran up on rocks in a storm off Howth.
The then minister for the marine and defence, Mr Sean Barrett, pledged to provide 24-hour cover, and this was introduced by his successor in the current Government, the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Dr Woods.
The plan was that the Air Corps would serve both the east and south coasts, with a medium-lift craft being acquired on contract for crews to fly from Baldonnel. However, a shortage of staff was cited by the Department of the Marine as the main reason for eventually awarding the east coast service to Bond Helicopters, also appointed holder of the Shannon service. Some Air Corps staff had already left for jobs with Bond Helicopters.
The south coast gap was filled last year, when an Alouette was stationed at Waterford rather than Cork, as originally envisaged. Last July Dr Woods had pledged to replace the Waterford Alouette with a Dauphin within a year if possible. He did so, this week.
