Voluntary Search and Rescue groups across Northern Ireland are set to get a boost of £200,000, the Department of Justice has announced.
The new capital funding package will help nine independent groups deliver assistance to the emergency services and directly to the community through lifesaving search and rescue on inland waterways, mountains and caves.
They also provide a specialist search dog facility and support civil aviation with a sky watch service.
Department of Justice Permanent Secretary Peter May said: “This vital funding will immediately benefit the voluntary search and rescue teams and their dedicated highly trained volunteers, to answer calls from people in distress.
“I fully appreciate the contribution made by the groups, and am delighted to be able to provide additional financial support to assist them in carrying out their vital work."
Mr May also acknowledged the generosity of the public in providing support to the search and rescue sector: “Throughout Northern Ireland the public generously support search and rescue groups, allowing them to fund essential training and equipment. Without such donations and support these groups would not be as well equipped to assist those who need it most.”
The new funding is in addition to revenue funding provided by the Department of Justice on an annual basis. £86,000 was allocated earlier this year.
What the groups got:
Mourne Mountain Rescue Team: £23,260
Community Rescue Service: £32,000
Irish Cave Rescue Organisation:£26,000
Foyle Search and Rescue:£9,396
Search and Rescue Dog Association NI: £26,500
Lagan Search and Rescue: £23,180
Lough Neagh Rescue: £28,995
North West Mountain Rescue Team: £18,975
Joint Application – Sky watch/Lagan Search and Rescue/Lough Neagh Rescue: £11,669
Keep up-to-date with all the very latest news, what's on, sport and everything else in Belfast and beyond with the Belfast Live app.
Only select news that interests you by picking the topics you want to display on the app's homepage. Plus, our enhanced user experience includes live blogs, video, interactive maps and slick picture galleries. Download it now and get involved.
Click here to get it from the App Store or here for Google Play .
