The Riigikogu discussed the capability and readiness of the rescue helicopters of the Police and Border Guard Board
Minister of the Interior Igor Taro gave replies to three interpellations.
Members of the Riigikogu Reili Rand, Riina Sikkut, Helmen Kütt, Anti Allas, Jaak Aab, Tanel Kiik, Andre Hanimägi, Enn Eesmaa and Kersti Sarapuu asked the Minister of the Interior about the capability and readiness of the rescue helicopters of the Police and Border Guard Board (No. 869).
The interpellators noted that the safety of people in Estonia at sea, on land, and especially on the islands of Western Estonia depended on how quickly the state was able provide assistance in critical situations. Rescue helicopters play a central role in this, performing a vital medical task by transporting patients in critical condition to hospital in addition to search and rescue operations. According to the interpellators, the current helicopter capability does not meet Estonia’s needs, but no funds have been allocated in the budget for the purchase of new helicopters.
In response to the interpellation, the Minister of the Interior gave an overview of the main capability gaps in rescue helicopters and said that, in order to comprehensively resolve them, all helicopters would have to be replaced at the earliest opportunity and at the same time. Taro stated that more helicopters were needed to respond to rescue incidents with helicopters more quickly and effectively, including to ensure the response readiness of helicopters from more than one location and to improve the technical availability of helicopters. He added that that required expanding the current main base and increasing the personnel of the aviation group.
“The helicopters in service are planned to be replaced, based on their service life, no later than 2032–2035. The service life of these helicopters is 25 years,” Taro stated. “The current state budget strategy does not provide budget funds for the purchase of new helicopters,” the minister said. Taro said that funding opportunities were being sought to replace the helicopters and if they were found there was a willingness to also replace the helicopters earlier. “At the same time, it will take at least three to four years from the preparation of the helicopter procurement to delivery,” he added.
Taro said that while earlier the aviation group of the Police and Border Guard Board had been ready to respond to a call within an hour, since the end of last year, that time had been 15 minutes. He stated that, in the future, there could be more helicopters than there are now, which would also help to further improve response capability. According to Taro, this year, there are plans to update the development plan for the aviation capability of the Police and Border Guard Board for the next ten years, after which it will also become clear what the plan and resource requirements are to ensure the response readiness of rescue helicopters permanently from more than one location. He added that the border guard station and helicopter hangar of the Police and Border Guard Board in the city of Kuressaare on the island of Saaremaa were ready for use.
Reili Rand took the floor as the representative of the interpellators during the debate.
Minister of the Interior also replied to the interpellations concerning the legality of the activities of Russian-Israeli businessman Sergei Uger in connection with the planned mineral water wells in the small town of Väimela (No. 858) and the scarcity of shooting ranges and shooting sites (No. 886), submitted by members of the Riigikogu.
Helmen Kütt and Madis Kallas took the floor during the open microphone.
The sitting ended at 5.22 p.m.
Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)
Video recording will be available to watch later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.
Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
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