Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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309. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the protocols, including weather, in relation to the request by first responders for Rescue 112 to attend a medical emergency on land by night. [12898/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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For the Deputy's awareness, Air Corps 112 is the callsign for the Air Corps helicopter on Emergency Aeromedical Support (EAS) service on any given day. The prefix 'Rescue' is associated with Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) helicopters and any questions seeking operational information in respect of IRCG assets should be directed to my colleague, the Minister for Transport.

The Air Corps operates the (EAS) service based on the 2015 Government Decision. The Government Decision established the EAS service on a permanent basis and provided that it would operate as a daily, day-time only service based out of Custume Barracks, Athlone. Since the commencement of this service in June 2012, the Air Corps has completed over 3,000 missions with 366 missions completed during 2020. 

Certain Air Corps operations have night flying capability, however, this is restricted to military and security support roles.  

While there are no plans to extend the current level of service provided by the EAS, there is a project currently ongoing to ensure the sustainability of the service into the future. Representatives from the Air Corps, the Departments of Defence and Health, the National Ambulance Service and the HSE are members of this project team. 

The EAS and other air ambulance support services are good examples of the Air Corps and HSE combining their resources to deliver life-saving services for the people of Ireland.