Rural Affairs Minister Edwin Poots has visited Foyle Search and Rescue to see their new sonar system, which was funded through his Department's Rural Community Rescue Scheme.

The voluntary-run Londonderry-based charity received Pound 151,554 from the Scheme towards new multi beam sonar technology, which will greatly help improve their search capabilities.

Minister Poots said: "It's not often that I attend a launch of equipment that I hope is never used, but this is one of those occasions. However, if this high tech sonar system has to be used by Foyle Search and Rescue to assist with searches in the river Foyle, then I know that it may help bring early closure to families who have lost loved ones."  

The Minister added: "These volunteers work tirelessly to help others and this equipment should reduce the amount of time that volunteers have to spend searching for missing persons, which is a difficult task and is often hampered by bad weather."

During his visit, the Minister was met by Stephen Twells, Chairman of Foyle Search and Rescue, along with volunteers of the charity's Sonar team, who gave him a tour of the facilities and briefed him on the new equipment.

Welcoming the visit by the Minister, Stephen Twells said: "We are extremely grateful for this significant funding from DAERA, which has allowed us to invest in this new multi beam sonar technology, and although we hope rarely to use it, we are sure it will become an invaluable additional tool to help us find someone who has been lost and be able to bring them home to their family. It will help us search the river more effectively and thoroughly."