Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The memo dated 30 June from Major General Cotter is damning to say the least. It is almost a year since the memo was presented to the Minister of State and his Department. Over the course of the year, the Minister of State and the Department have been aware of major deficiencies in air traffic control and air ambulance transport. All we have got back to date is the Department saying it is looking at recruiting and promoting new members. It is shocking that we have not seen any marked improvement in the level of service provided and do not have 24/7 cover for top cover missions and air ambulance transfer. Within the memo, four priority missions were identified. Remarkably, air ambulance transfer and top cover were not included in the four. I have no major difficulty with ministerial transport being a service provided by the Air Corps to Government unless it impacts directly on services to citizens which I and every other citizen view as vital, namely air ambulance transfer and top cover for search and rescue missions.

When the Minister of State was made aware of this, what action did he and the Department take immediately? Why are we not seeing results now and why are we not seeing an increase in the level of cover for those services? Why do we continue to have those four priorities in place? Why have air ambulance transfer and top cover not been included in the list of priorities as those missions which can and must be maintained?

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