The Air Search and Rescue service is to retain its base at Strandhill in County Sligo.
Junior Minister and Sligo/Leitrim TD Frank Feighan has issued a statement welcoming a cabinet decision confirming four air search and rescue bases across the country, including the one at Strandhill.
Over the last number of weeks concerns were raised that a tender process currently taking place might reduce the number of bases in the country from four to three, resulting in the service being lost to either Waterford or Sligo.
Minister Feighan said he has had a number of conversations with the Tánaiste and with Minister Hildegarde Naughton on the issue of securing the Strandhill Airport facility as a Search and Rescue base for the north west region.
The minister now says he was contacted this morning by Minister Naughton’s office, confirming a cabinet decision that there will be four bases in total for the air/sea rescue service.
He says this provides the certainty that was sought by many who expressed fears for the Strandhill operation.
Minister Feighan said that at this stage, the procurement process must take its course over the coming weeks before the successful company that will operate the service at the four airports will be known.
However, he says the latest development has given certainty in relation to the service at Strandhill.
