Up to 50 members of rescue services have taken part in a training exercise in Dublin Bay today.

The operation, at Dalkey Island in south county Dublin, involved the RNLI, Irish Coastguard and the Irish Naval Services.

It's hoped the search and rescue training exercis, which involved RNLI lifeboats, Coastguard units, the Irish Coastguard rescue helicopter and units from the Naval Reserve Service, will prepare the crews for various scenarios they may encounter when they're called out in an emergency.

The operation took place from 1pm to 5pm, and regular rescue cover was not affected.

David Branigan of the RNLI is hopeful it will prove useful in the event of a real emergency.

"An exercise that involves a realistic scenario allows volunteers to try out different rescue techniques, without the pressure of somebody's life being at risk.

"But by making it realistic, it gives a higher standard of training and allows people to be more effective when the real thing occurs."