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.
