CONTENTS. Introduction & Acknowledgements 3. Definition of a Community Inshore Rescue Service 5. Station Management Committee 6.

Transcription

1

2 2 CONTENTS. Introduction & Acknowledgements 3. Definition of a Community Inshore Rescue Service 5. Station Management Committee 6. Appointment and Duties of Honorary Officials 6. Crew Enrolment 8. Responsibilities and Duties 8. Operation 9. Limitations of Rescue Boats 10. Operating Guidelines for Inshore Rescue Boats 10. Government & Other Assistance 12.

3 Introduction. 3 Guidelines for the establishment and running of a Community Inshore Rescue Service 2 nd. Edition 2002 As a result of a tragic canoe accident off the beach in Tramore in 1962 in which three youths lost their lives, a Committee was established under the auspices of the Irish Red Cross Water Safety Service to investigate the possibility of placing a Community Inshore Rescue Boat on station. At that time, the R.N.L.I. was researching a new prototype lifeboat for inshore rescue purposes. This was in fact, the forerunner to the well-known D Class Inshore lifeboat that is used extensively by the RNLI around the United Kingdom and Ireland. These fast inflatable boats proved very successful and the first one to be stationed in Ireland as a Community Inshore Rescue Boat was stationed at Tramore in Followed by the establishment of an R.N.L.I. Inshore Lifeboat Service in Tramore one-year later in Since then, Tramore has both an R.N.L.I. Inshore lifeboat and a Community Inshore Rescue Boat on station. The second Community Station to be established was in Bundoran, County Donegal in 1974, as the result of local effort spearheaded by Frank O Kelly with the assistance of Tramore Sea Rescue and Irish Water Safety. In the following years, particularly along the west coast of Ireland several Community Inshore Rescue Services were established. In order to assist these services the Government agreed that value added taxation (vat) relief could be granted through the Department of Finance. Relief was granted on condition that the Service met an acceptable standard agreed between the Department of Finance and Irish Water Safety. Irish Water Safety on behalf of the Department of Finance under a Statutory Instrument administers this. The number of services nationwide is now ten based at the following locations: - Tramore, Bonmahon, Kilkee, Banna, Ballybunion, Cahore, Drogheda, Caherdaniel, Wexford and Bantry. Both the Bundoran and Courtown Harbour Community Services are now under the auspices of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. In 1972, a Committee of the Irish Water Safety Association, albeit on an ad hoc bases, looked after the interests of the Community Inshore Rescue Services in Ireland. This Committee assisted in training and the provision of surplus equipment for those who needed help, aided by the generosity of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. It was not until the establishment of the Irish Marine Emergency Service in 1990 (now the Irish Coast Guard) that a formal group was put in place to give advice and assistance to Community Inshore Rescue Services nationwide. The group is called the Community Inshore Rescue Service Advisory Group (CIRSAG) and is chaired by the Chief of Operations of the Irish Coast Guard. The other members of the group are representatives of Irish Water Safety and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Once receiving VAT Relief, the Irish Coast Guard may sign an agreement with a particular Inshore Service declaring them as a Declared Facility. Both the granting of Vat Relief and the status of Declared Facility are conditional on providing and maintaining the rescue service to acceptable standards. Examiners from Irish Water Safety or Operations & Training Officers of the Irish Coast Guard verify continuing operating standards annually. These guidelines are to assist any Community that might be considering establishing an Inshore Rescue Service in their locality. However, it has to be stressed that the general principles and requirements concerning the administration of a station are standard, but on the operational side each locality has to be looked at and examined individually and relevant to topography, launch area, etc. Certain areas may require additional procedures to be in place or specific equipment to meet the particular demands in providing a rescue service and ensuring the safety of the crew in fulfilling the task for which established. For example, a D Class boat driven by a 40 hp engine may be suitable for Tramore Bay, but may be totally unsuitable at another location. The location in question might be better served by the provision of a Rigid Hull craft.

4 4 Therefore, careful consideration should be given and advice sought based on good local knowledge prior to the establishment of any Community Inshore Rescue Service or the purchase of any craft. Every advice possible should be got and if necessary trials with different craft should be initiated and carried out before any commitment is made. One of the most important considerations that have to be given to the establishment of any service is the availability of personnel to man the service throughout the year. For inshore boats, persons over 45 years are unsuitable for crewing (see maximum age under crew enrolment). Therefore the driving forces behind the establishment of an inshore rescue service must keep this factor in mind. The provision of any community service is an expensive move, the cost factor of providing the boat, engine, housing, protective clothing, running costs, etc, must be borne in mind. On average, from the time the first seed is sown and a decision made to investigate the establishment of a service within a particular community - to actually providing the service - it will take approximately 3 years. It has to be fully appreciated that this booklet is a guide only and many other operational matters and good practice will not necessarily have been covered herein, therefore! it is incumbent on a Station Committee of Management to investigate and formulate their own operational and callout procedures in line with what the guidelines suggest. Acknowledgement. In compiling these guidelines for use by those considering establishing a voluntary Community Inshore Rescue Service or managing one within their community, the use of documentation of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Irish Water Safety and Irish Coast Guard was researched and used. The excellent work of the members of the Rescue Commission of Irish Water Safety and the Community Inshore Rescue Service Advisory Group contributed towards producing this booklet by way of advice and information. Frank Nolan. G.Kt.Odr L.S. Copyright IWS & ICG Training in D Class - Inshore Boats

5 5 Definition of a Community Inshore Rescue Service Any Inshore Rescue Service established, must be established in the spirit of the International Convention, which deals with Safety of Life at Sea. Under the terms of the Convention (of which Ireland is a signatory) each contracting Government - on receiving information that any person is or appears to be in distress at sea, the responsible authorities shall take urgent steps to ensure that the necessary assistance is provided, assistance shall be provided to any person in distress at sea regardless of nationality or status of such person or the circumstances in which that person is found. The responsible authority is the Irish Coast Guard. Similarly any Inshore Rescue Service established on any waters within the State, to assist those in distress would comply with these guidelines and in the same spirit thereof. The rescue service shall be established to assist persons in distress at sea or on any waters of Ireland. The recovery of dead bodies is ancillary to rescuing persons alive. It shall be provided throughout the year and shall operate in seas and on waters within the limitations of the craft on service. A Committee of Management, who will be local residents of the area, will manage the station and crews. Three persons will be appointed as Designated Launching Authorities (DLA) with responsibility for all emergency callouts. The alarm system must be such that personnel are available for rescue within minutes of the alarm having been raised. All crewmembers will be fully qualified and will undergo constant training. Training will be to an approved training programme as set by Water Safety Ireland. Only very experienced crewmembers will be considered as appointed helmsmen. All crewmembers must submit to a medical examination each year. The equipment, which includes the boat and engine, must be stored in a building, which gives easy access to the water. The equipment must not be used for any purpose other that for rescue and training and it must otherwise be available in an emergency in the station premises. All equipment including the boat and engine must be of an acceptable standard to ensure the safety of the crew the standard shall be that as recognised by Water Safety Ireland. The inshore rescue boat must be fitted with a vhf marine radio, which will be licensed and the crew will also hold an operator s license. Station personnel must comply with all the recognised procedures as laid down in International Maritime Law concerning Safety of Life at Sea. All property salvaged will be handed over to the Receiver of Wrecks, Customs & Excise. Navigation Lecture Training Course

6 6 Station Management Committee Formation. The formation of a Station Management Committee will be at the discretion of the Local Community following from a decision to place an inshore rescue boat on service and maintain such service to rescue persons in distress from the waters of Ireland Aim. The Station Management Committee shall be responsible for the day-to-day management of the inshore rescue station in their locality and these regulations shall be used as guidelines for that purpose. The Committee will also be responsible for raising funds and financing the operation of the service and may establish a separate fundraising sub-committee if it should consider this desirable, but the Treasurer of the Committee must retain over all responsibility for finances of the station Management Committee. The Committee should consist of a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Press Officer, Medical Adviser, two Designated Launch Authority Officers and at least four other members. A President may be appointed if considered desirable. Operational crewmembers should not be Officers of the Committee Rules. The Committee will adopt a standard set of rules and procedure for the good conduct of meetings. These guidelines may be adopted as the general standard for operational procedures. Appointment and Duties of Honorary Officials At each Inshore Rescue Station the Management Committee will appoint the following officials. 1. Honorary Secretary, 2. Two Deputy Launching Authorities, 3. Honorary Medical Adviser. In addition a Station Administrative Officer may be appointed Appointment of Honorary Secretary and Deputy Launching Authorities. The Honorary Secretary should be appointed by the Management Committee and not elected. The duties of the Hon. Secretary are onerous and are very much a kin to that of a Chief Executive Officer. Honorary Secretary and Deputy Launching Authorities having been appointed by the Committee of Management are not re-elected at the Annual General Meeting, but may be replaced by the Committee if considered necessary or should the holder of the post wish to resign. Honorary Secretaries and Deputy Launching Authorities must not be crewmembers. It is desirable that they have a marine background or a good knowledge of boating and be familiar with local conditions, be it sea, river or lake. It is desirable that the Honorary Secretary and Deputy Launching Authorities should reside and have their normal place of work reasonably near to the area of the inshore rescue station in order to deal effectively with any emergency that may arise. The normal age of retirement of Honorary Secretaries and Deputy Launching Authorities will be seventy years. Appointments for these posts should not normally be made after sixty-five years of age.

7 Duties of Honorary Secretaries and Deputy Launching Authorities. The primary duty of the Honorary Secretary of the Station Branch is the management of the inshore rescue station on a day-to-day bases and conducting all general correspondence on behalf of the Committee. It is the duty of the Honorary Secretary to authorise the launching of the inshore rescue boat on service, on receiving information from the Irish Coast Guard of an emergency within the stations operational area. The Hon. Secretary is therefore principal launching authority for the service. The primary duty of a Deputy Launching Authority is to undertake the Honorary Secretary's duties should the Secretary be unavailable and to authorise the launch of the Inshore Rescue Boat on service. A Station Administrative Officer who has no operational responsibilities may assist the Honorary Secretary with general correspondence Absence of Honorary Secretaries and Deputy Launching Authorities. Should the Honorary Secretary and the Deputy Launching Authority be absent or unavailable, the Management Committee shall delegate on a temporary bases an acting shore-based launching authority that must be thoroughly conversant with the launch regulations Launching Authorities not to Embark for Service Calls. Neither the Secretary nor a Deputy Launching Authority should go afloat on service. Life saving interests can best be served if the Secretary or Deputy Launching Authority remains on shore to ensure the maintenance of communications and other essential operational administration which the boat is on service Appointment of Honorary Treasurer. The Treasurer will have full responsibility for all station finances and will open an account in the name of the station branch. All cheques issued on behalf of the branch will have two signatures on them, that of the Hon. Secretary or that of the Chairman as well as that of the Treasurer. An independent audit will be carried out once a year and the accounts of that audit will be presented to the AGM. These accounts must be available to any authorised Officer of Irish Water Safety or the Irish Coast Guard for inspection, where Vat Relief or Grant Aid is received from the State Appointment of Honorary Medical Adviser. An Honorary Medical Adviser should be appointed at every Inshore Rescue Station. The Station Committee will consider a suitable candidate for this appointment from among Doctors who reside in the neighbourhood. The HMA should be an honorary member of the Station Management Committee and not a crewmember and will have the right to attend Committee meetings Duties of Honorary Medical Adviser (HMO). The duties of the Honorary Medical Adviser are: To give the Secretary or Coxswain any advice of a medical nature that may assist the efficient working of the inshore rescue boat service. Give or arrange first aid training for members of the inshore rescue boat to an approved standard. Carry out medical examinations of potential crewmembers and annual medical examinations of existing crew.

8 Duties of Station Honorary Press Officer. The Station Honorary Press Officer at an inshore rescue station is expected to maintain friendly relations with the local representatives of the press, television and radio. The Press Officer should inform representatives of the media when the rescue boat is launched and should act as the link with the media during and immediately after a service. He/she should work closely with the Honorary Secretary and relieve him/her of the duties and responsibilities for media liaison. In deciding what information to impart, the Press Officers should consult and be guided by the Secretary. Every effort must be made in dealing with media personnel to give factual information and a balanced view in relation to the operation and the role of all those (other agencies) that participated. This particularly applies if there is more than one service involved in the rescue incident. Crew Enrolment Enrolment of IRB Crews. Potential crew members should be invited to fill out an application form giving all the relevant information concerning age etc, but also including such matters as swimming ability, prone to sea sickness, or any other disability which may impair judgment or performance when on the water in an emergency situation. Before granting membership a prospective crewmember should be examined by the Station Honorary Medical Adviser. An application on the approved form must be forwarded to Secretary who will arrange for the Medical Officer to examine the applicant. The Secretary will bring the application form before the Committee of Management for final decision, but weighted consideration must be given to the Secretaries opinion based on present numbers serving, etc. The approved application form should contain sufficient details in order for the Committee to make a decision to accept the applicant or not. Once accepted the applicant or the committee may terminate membership without prejudice within two years, this time is a probationary period Minimum Age. The minimum age for joining the service should be 18 years. Persons under this age are considered juveniles and it would have ramifications for the Committee of Management in relation to having a code of ethics for the Protection of Children in place within the service Maximum Age. The Maximum age is 45 years for operational duties afloat. With the permission of the Committee of Management and on condition of having an annual medical examination an extension on a yearly bases may be granted to 50 years (Date of 50 th Birthday). No person can crew after 45 years and 50 years in very exceptional cases Helmsmen. Responsibilities and Duties Will be appointed by the Management Committee from experienced crewmembers. It is desirable that crewmembers so appointed will have satisfactorily completed a course in inshore rescue boats, be competent in the use of radio and have a VHF License and also a First Aid Certificate. There should be a senior helmsman appointed from among the helmsmen, who shall be responsible for ensuring that maintenance etc is carried out.

9 General Prohibition. No person will go on the water in an inshore rescue boat, while they have alcoholic drink taken, under the care of a medical doctor or under the influence of medication or drugs. No person will go on the water, while he considers himself to be unwell or unfit and he should inform the Secretary and seek the advice of the Medical Officer if in doubt Duties of Helmsmen. Helmsmen are required to comply with the regulations for helmsmen at all times. All appointed helmsmen have the same responsibilities as detailed below. The term coxswain will refer to helmsman as the person incharge Helmsmen to Take Command. The helmsman will be incharge of all operations connected with the launching, hauling up and housing of the boat. He/she will be in command of the inshore rescue boat when on board and may not, unless incapacitated, give up the command to any other person Wearing of Lifejackets. The helmsman must not permit any person to go afloat either on service or on exercise unless that person is wearing a suitable recommended lifejacket and protective clothing General Responsibilities. The helmsman will normally act under the orders of the Secretary or one of the DLAs. The helmsman is responsible to the Management Committee through the Secretary for: - The efficiency of the inshore rescue boat and gear. Ensuring that the boat is at all times ready for service. Reporting all damage and defects to the Secretary. Ensuring that the boat s gear is not improperly used or used by unauthorised persons, Ensuring that the boat carries her correct crew number for service, exercises and engine runs. While leaving the location of the boathouse on service, helmsman should ensure that the boat travels at a speed commensurate to the locality and bearing in mind other vessels moored or moving within the harbour this is usually about 4 knots Merchandise in Inshore Rescue Boats. Operation The Helmsman must not permit to be taken into the boat, at any time, goods or merchandise which in his/her opinion might endanger the boat or the lives of those on board. Should such goods be taken into the boat the helmsman is authorised to discard them being in mind all the relevant regulations concerning the disposal of flares etc Preparation for Launching. On return from service or exercise the rescue boat must be made ready (in all respects) for the next launch on service. The helmsman is responsible to ensure that this is done with as little delay as possible. This

10 10 must include refueling, charging batteries, and any outstanding maintenance that has come to notice in recent times Cleaning Inshore Rescue Boat and Gear. The crew under the supervision of the helmsman is required to assist with the cleaning down of the rescue boat, carriage, tractor and boathouse as applicable, and for hosing down all gear and cordage with fresh water. The boat, engine and trailer must be washed down with fresh water Reports of Launches or Assemblies. After every launch of the boat on service, assembly of the crew, or failure to launch when required, the helmsman must give a complete account of the circumstances to the Secretary as soon as possible, or in his absence to a DLA Discretion as to Launch. Limitations of Rescue Boats It is considered vital that all concerned understand the limitations of the station boat. The authority to launch is at the absolute discretion of the Secretary or Deputy Launch Authority, who should not hesitate to refuse to allow the boat to be launched or to proceed to sea on either exercise or service if conditions are in his opinion, unduly hazardous. In considering a launch of the boat, they should take into consideration the following factors together with the effect on crewmembers; sea state, air temperature, likely duration of service, distance of casualty from inshore rescue station, visibility, onset of darkness etc. Once launched, it is at the absolute desecration of the helmsman and if necessary in consultation with the crew as to whether to continue with the operation or to terminate and return to shore General. Operating Guidelines for Inshore Rescue Boats Not withstanding these guidelines, any inshore rescue boat with an unserviceable VHF radio should, in general, be restricted to operations within the view of the launching authority on shore, unless supported by another inshore rescue boat or lifeboat with radio facilities. Inshore rescue boats with serviceable vhf radios should report position and intended movements to the cognisant, coordinating shore station (Irish Coast Guard via the appropriate radio station) at intervals not exceeding 15 minutes. In general, the inshore rescue boat should only be launched on exercise or service in daylight and in sea conditions not in excess of moderate. It may be operated at night in exceptional circumstances, such as slight sea conditions with bright moonlight or close to lighted quays. Vessels, fitted with nighttime navigational aids, including lights can operate at night within the limitations of the craft and the competency of the crew. NOTE; Local conditions are likely to vary widely and therefore as a broad guideline only, the upper weather limits referred to above - approximate to sea conditions - associated with onshore winds of the Beaufort Scale as follows; SEA CONDITIONS BEAUFORT WIND SCALE Moderate Sea 5 Conditions Moderate to Rough Sea Conditions 5/6 Rough Sea Conditions 6/7

11 IRB Operations and Exercises with Helicopters. Operations and exercises with helicopters are to be conducted in accordance with standard operating procedures. Consultation with the Irish Coast Guard on this matter is recommended. Operating procedures vary for different types of rescue helicopter, as for different types of rescue craft, therefore in exercise situations, a pre-briefing session is essential between all those involved. Furthermore, communication between the helicopter crew and the boat crew during exercise or actual rescue operations is essential Capsizes and Major Damage. In the event of a rescue boat capsizing or suffering major damage with or without loss of life or injury, the facts should be reported as soon as possible to the Secretary, who will notify the Irish Coast Guard including other appropriate authorities that the boat is off station. In capsize situations, where the engine is submerged in water, thus making it unserviceable it should not be used even if re-instated. The engine must be returned to a reparable service center for total strip down and service Primary Duty of Helmsmen. Prepared and Ready The helmsman in command of an inshore rescue boat must, at all times, when on service, use the utmost endeavors to safeguard and rescue the lives of those in danger. The helmsman must not allow considerations of property salvage to influence decisions or actions when lives are in danger and will terminate any rescue if the crew is in danger beyond what is considered an acceptable level of safety Wearing of Lifejackets. Lifejackets are to be worn by the crews of inshore rescue boats at all times when on the water. The responsibility to ensure that lifejackets are correctly fitting, adjusted and secure rests primarily on the crewmember. Lifejackets must be of an approved standard and fitted with a crotch strap. Automatic lifejackets that have been tampered with by the removal of the automatic mechanism thus stopping them from inflating on contact with water should under no circumstances be used. Lifejackets, should have the appropriate built in buoyancy to support a body in the event of the automatic mechanism failing.

12 7.6 - Wearing of Protective Clothing and Helmets. 12 It is the responsibility of each crewmember to ensure that the correct protective clothing and helmet is worn when going to sea. These items should be correctly fitting and suitably adjusted for security and comfort. There is also a personal responsibility on the helmsman to ensure that the crews are properly attired and lifejackets suitably adjusted. It has to be remembered, that rushing to sea with light clothing on a summers evening, will not be adequate if the service becomes protracted, lasting late into the evening, or if weather conditions change. In such circumstances, crew become a liability, with the possibility of them suffering from hypothermia, thus affecting the efficiency of the service. It is the absolute responsibility of the helmsman to ensure that this regulation is enforced without exception. So far as is possible survivors lifejackets are to be issued to survivors. Helmets are to be worn on all occasions when afloat in the inshore rescue boat Reports of Service. After every launch on service, assembly of the crew, or failure to launch when required, the helmsman must give a complete account of the circumstances to the Honorary Secretary as soon as possible Smoking Prohibition. Smoking is forbidden in all rescue boats at all times and also in the boathouses. This restriction also applies when handling fuels or inflammables externally near the boat, tractor-unit or boathouse Publicity Launches. The launching of inshore rescue boats for publicity purposes is permitted only under the following conditions: - 1. That permission is first obtained from the Committee. 2. That the boat is not removed off station operational area. 3. That the boat is available on service in the general area of the demonstration. 4. Maroons or rockets are not to be fired without warning the Irish Coast Guard and other local authorities such as the Garda Siochana. Distress signals are never to be discharged on exercises VAT Relief Scheme. Government & Other Assistance. Once a service is established and operational a request is made to the Revenue Commissioners, Department of Finance or to the Chief Executive Officer, Irish Water Safety, The Long Walk, Galway City, for the necessary application forms. Once completed and returned to the appropriate authority an inspection will be carried out of the service for the purpose of certification in order to obtain VAT Relief. It must be stressed that the service will have to be to a standard as agreed between the Revenue Commissioners and Irish Water Safety. That is, it must be a bona fide rescue service based on the definition of a Community Inshore Rescue Service as defined at the commencement of this booklet. For example, a temporary boathouse will be accepted for a limited period, but it will be anticipated that a permanent one will be provided within a reasonable time frame. If certification were granted on the bases of temporary accommodation, such certification would be conditional on permanent accommodation being available in the short to medium term. It should be noted that VAT Relief is not granted on fuel and certain other items as defined by the Department of Finance. Those seeking assessment may be required to pay the necessary expenses of Examiners of Irish Water Safety who will carryout the inspection on behalf of the Revenue Commissioners. Once assessed and approved for Vat Relief, revalidation is necessary on an annual bases or at such times as is satisfactory to the Department of Finance. When a service is accepted as being to an acceptable standard, a certificate is issued to the Revenue Commissioners, Department of Finance also a copy to the applicant and the Community Inshore Rescue Service Advisory Group are advised. Advising the CIRSAG is necessary to further expedite the

13 13 procedure whereby the Inshore Service can be considered and invited to become a member of that Grouping and become a Declared Facility VAT Refund Information. 1. Under the terms of the Value Added Tax (Refund of Tax) (NO. l8) Order 1985, made by the Minister for Finance on Ist July 1985 the Revenue Commissioners may refund the VAT content of expenditure incurred in the purchase of sea rescue boats, equipment and building to qualified bodies. 2. Any such body wishing to claim refund of VAT must apply to the Revenue Commissioners by completing the specified application form. In order to qualify the body must; Satisfy the Revenue Commissioners that it has borne or paid the VAT concerned. Provide documentary evidence to establish to the Revenue Commissioners that the expenditure was in respect of a boat, equipment or building provided in conjunction with a rescue service.. Provide invoices etc for the tax paid and importation documentation where appropriate. Satisfy the Revenue Commissioners the inshore rescue service meets the requirements of Irish Water Safety Satisfy the Revenue Commissioners that the boat, equipment or building is not used for a purpose other than rescue or training for rescue purposes. 3. Claims for refund of VAT will normally be in respect of expenditure incurred within a 12-month period. 4. Irish Water Safety is responsible for certifying that the rescue service meets the requirements in relation to organisation and functioning. These requirements are as follows: The rescue service must operate throughout the year, However, it must be manned by local people and managed by a local committee. Three persons must be appointed as Designated Launching Authorities (D.L.A) with responsibility for all emergency call-outs, The alarm system must be-such that the boat can be manned and launched within minutes of the alarm being raised, Crew personnel must undergo regular training as approved by Irish Water Safety Helmsmen must be appointed from the most experienced crewmembers, The boat and equipment must be stored with easy assess to the water and capable of being launched quickly in cases of emergency, Equipment must not be used for any purpose other than rescue and training, The boat and equipment must be of a standard to ensure the safety of the crew - the standard to be acceptable to Irish Water Safety.

14 14 The boat should be fitted with a VHF Marine Radio and the crew licensed to operate this by the Office of the Director of Telecommunications Regulations. Engine Maintenance Training Course 5. Applicants for VAT re-coupment must complete the VAT claim form No. VAT 70 and send the completed form with the necessary accompanying documentation to the Revenue Commissioners. 6. The application must be accompanied by a statement from the Water Safety Ireland that the nature and extent of the services of rescue provided by the claimant body meets the requirements of Irish Water Safety in relation to organisation and functioning as set out in paragraph 4 of the memorandum. In order to enable personnel from Irish Water Safety to examine this, each claimant body is asked to complete the application form W.S.1. and to send the completed application form with the accompanying documentation to the Chief Executive Officer, Irish Water Safety, The Long Walk, Galway City Declared Facility. It is the responsibility of the Irish Coast Guard to recognise a particular service as a Declared Facility of the Irish SAR Organisation. This declaration is a statement of fact that the agreeing service can provide to the Irish Coast Guard a facility with may be used in SAR operation. It does not put any obligation on the declaring service that they must respond to any incident beyond the limitations or capabilities of their declared service. However, it would be anticipated that having signed a memorandum of understanding and declaring their service that they would respond to a SAR incident within the terms of reference agreed. It is agreed that if a Community Inshore Rescue Service qualifies for vat-relief and is accepted as an associate member under CIRSAG, consideration will be given by the Irish Coast Guard to nominating them as a declared facility. However, this status is totally at the discretion of the Irish Coast Guard, the declaring service having signed a memorandum of understanding with the Coast Guard. It does not automatically follow that having received vat-relief one is entitled to declared facility status, but it is agreed that prior to declared facility status being granted the applicant will have secured vat-relief status. Any service that has both statuses and subsequently loses one will result in consideration being given to informing the relevant service provider that the other is also lost by default. For this purpose, Irish Water Safety will notify the Revenue Commissioner s of the circumstances and the Irish Coast Guard will deal with the declared facility issue as appropriate. The rational and reason for this, is that, both

15 15 the vat-relief status and the declared facility status are interdependent on the same criteria and standards applying towards providing a Community Inshore Rescue Service. It is the responsibility of each Community Inshore Rescue Service to; Declare the standard of capability of their declared facility. Maintain the declared facility to the declared standard. Inform the Irish Coast Guard immediately there is a change in the declared service. Advise the Irish Coast Guard when the declared facility is launched and once launched place it under the Co-ordination authority of the Irish Coast Guard. Allow inspections when requested by the Community Inshore Rescue Service Advisory Group. Provide, in time for consideration by CIRSAG at its annual October meeting, financial estimates for the coming year and receipts from the past year if they wish to apply for any grant aiding that may be available. Details of becoming a Declared Facility are available form the Director, Irish Coast Guard, Department of Marine, Leeson Lane, Dublin Community Inshore Rescue Service Advisory Group. It should be noted that in order to give advice and assistance to recognised Community Inshore Rescue Services and to assist Communities that are trying to establish a service the Chief of Operations, Irish Coast Guard, Leeson Lane, Dublin 2. or alternatively the Chief Executive Officer, Irish Water Safety, The Long Walk, Galway will provide information and details. The Community Inshore Rescue Service Advisory Group is made up of representative of the Irish Coast Guard, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and Irish Water Safety and it meets with the Community Inshore Rescue Services that have been accepted as associate members (with both vat-relief and declared facility status) twice a year. Cahore, Co. Wexford Community Inshore Rescue Service

16 The Community Inshore Rescue Service Advisory Group (CIRSAG) has responsibility for; 1. Standards. 2. Meetings. 3. Membership. 4. Outside Participation. 5. Practical Training and Advice. 6. CIRS Administration. 16 This advisory Group has been active in providing grant aid, which is derived directly from the Irish Coast Guard. It provides a forum where Community Inshore Rescue services from various communities may come together to discuss mutual problems. It provides an annual training course run under the auspices of the Irish Water Safety and supported by the other members of CIRSAG, both financially and in the provision of equipment.