asked the Minister for the Marine the number of occasions within the last five years on which aircraft from the Royal Air Force took part in rescue operations off the coast of the State or involving Irish vessels.

Royal Air Force aircraft have been involved in search and rescue operations in our region of responsibility on the following number of occasions over the last five years: 1982 — 57, 1983 — 70, 1984 — 20, 1985 — 93, 1986 — 61.