Gabrielle McFadden (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. There are men and women going about their normal daily business in the midlands today who would not be with us were it not for the fantastic service provided by the Irish Air Corps, the National Ambulance Service and the AC112 air ambulance helicopter, based in Athlone, since 2012. Similarly, men and women are going about their daily business today unaware of the fact that they may one day need these services. The service is called upon on a nearly daily basis. Last year alone, it responded to 159 serious car crashes and 146 other medical emergencies, and provided 15 urgent transports of children to hospitals. The Minister of State will understand that there is a degree of concern in my home town of Athlone and the surrounding counties regarding any threat to the future of this service.

I understand the current situation and ongoing HR challenges faced by the Air Corps, particularly with regard to the recruitment and retention of pilots. I also understand that for training reasons, the Air Corps will not be in a position to accept emergency aeromedical requests by the National Ambulance Service for four days per month between now and the end of February 2020. Furthermore, I accept that the Irish Coast Guard will provide reserve cover to the National Ambulance Service for the 16 days during which the Air Corps is not accepting taskings, and that further backup from the Cork-based Irish Community Rapid Response, ICRR, helicopter has been explored.

I am not happy that we are in this situation. I have been a constant thorn in the Minister of State's side regarding funding for the Defence Forces. I accept that this training is necessary and that the cover arrangements put in place aim to provide the best service possible using all available resources. However, there is fear in the midlands, particularly in Athlone, that this is the thin end of the wedge, which might signal the winding down of this very valuable service. This fear has been stoked by certain public representatives for their own political purposes, but is nonetheless causing concern among the general public. I would like the Minister of State to allay those concerns. I ask him to address only one issue, namely, the future of this service. I do not need to hear an explanation of the current situation or the provisions put in place to address it. I have heard and understand the assurances from the Department in that regard. I am asking the Minister of State to make an unequivocal statement in this House that the service provided by the air ambulance helicopter in Athlone will not be wound down or reduced in any way and will continue to be based in Custume Barracks in Athlone.