The home affairs minister says a planned upgrading of the Island's emergency services communications systems is essential to maintain their efficiency and high standards.
This week, Adrian Earnshaw will ask Tynwald for ?4.2 million to be spent on the Emergency Services Joint Control Room and TETRA radio system, over the next five years.
The present equipment has been in use for five years, and the minister says it's the right time to carry out long-term maintenance and development work, given how important the facilities are to the Island.
With reference to the TETRA system, he told Manx Radio:
"It runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year so it needs to be top class to meet the requirements of the public when they need emergency services.
"We are introducing a programme over the next five years to update what we already have and to improve where necessary.
"These things are expensive exercises when you are trying to keep up to speed with IT equipment, but I hope I've outlined by the background I've given there, how essential this service is."
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