Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to have an opportunity to speak about this issue in Seanad Éireann this evening. I spoke about it earlier in response to a Commencement matter raised by Senator McFadden.

The emergency aeromedical support service, the EAS service, which is based in Custume Barracks, Athlone, is an important service provided by the Air Corps. Notwithstanding the well-documented, ongoing HR challenges in the Air Corps, in particular the recruitment and retention of pilots, the EAS service has been delivered without interruption since 2012. It is a service that I have prioritised and that will continue into the future.

I received military advice that the Air Corps will not be in a position to accept EAS taskings by the National Ambulance Service for four days per month for a period of four months. This is regrettable but necessary from a safety and governance perspective. During this time, there will be a training surge to produce a new cohort of aircraft commanders for the EAS service. This will ensure the long-term viability of the EAS service provided by the Air Corps.

The safety of service personnel, HSE staff and patients is the shared number one priority and our whole focus is returning the EAS service to full capacity.On the 16 days when the Air Corps will not be accepting taskings the Irish Coast Guard will provide reserve cover for the National Ambulance Service. This is line with the 2015 Government decision to establish the emergency aeromedical service. In addition, Irish Community Rapid Response, ICRR, charity helicopter emergency medical service, HEMS, has agreed to provide additional cover using a second helicopter which will be based in County Roscommon on the days when the Air Corps will not be in a position to accept taskings for the emergency aeromedical service. The ICRR helicopter will also continue to be available in the south of the country. I assure Senators that my entire focus is on returning the emergency aeromedical service to full capacity. In that regard, a number of measures are being pursued. They include the reintroduction of the service commitment scheme for pilots, the recommissioning of former Air Corps pilots and the training of junior pilots during this period.

The emergency aeromedical service provided by the Air Corps has completed more than 2,600 missions since it commenced operations in 2012. I pay tribute to the professional and effective service provided by Air Corps personnel. I also acknowledge the support of the Irish Coast Guard and ICRR during the current challenging period. The shared priority is to provide the best service possible using all available resources during the four-day period each month when the Air Corps will not be available for EAS taskings. The interruption is regrettable but necessary from a safety and governance perspective. I assure the House that the emergency aeromedical service operated by the Air Corps will continue. I am delighted to have another opportunity to outline the position on the issue.