Department of Transport is planning to downgrade the Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter service in the southeast.

Search and rescue helicopter bases in Dublin, Shannon and Sligo are to remain with 24-hour cover, but the Waterford service operated from Waterford regional airport is to be reduced to a 12-hour, daylight only service. This would save an estimated 1m per year.

Fishermen's organisations, RNLI members and politicians in the southeast have expressed outrage at the downgrading of the service