Joe Cooney (Clare, Fine Gael)
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367. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 479 of 29 April 2025, the reasons a company (details supplied) only assumed full 24-hour cover from Shannon almost five months after commencing operations; if he will review the procurement process to determine the way the helicopter emergency medical support service was not provided for from the outset resulting in a gap in the emergency medical response coverage from the Shannon base; and if any discrepancy in the like-for-like evaluation within the procurement process occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23219/25]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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The decision to award the contract delivery for the enhanced Coast Guard aviation service to Bristow Ireland Limited (BIL) followed a comprehensive and robust public procurement process which was undertaken fully in accordance with all national and EU procurement rules.

Prior to commencement of operations last year, BIL secured all necessary regulatory approvals from the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) to deliver the full suite of Coast Guard services, including Search & Rescue (SAR) and the provision of aviation support to other State entities including National Ambulance Service and An Garda Síochána.

The regulatory certifications secured in 2024 included approval to conduct Helicopter Emergency Medical services (HEMS). In April of this year BIL was notified by IAA that the stretcher in use by BIL was not yet fully certified for HEMS activity.

The IAA directive relates only to the use of stretchers on board HEMS missions and the decision therefore has no impact on delivery of primary Coast Guard aviation services, most notably Search and Rescue activities. This temporary HEMS stretcher restriction only applies to the Shannon base and Coast Guard continues to provide nationwide HEMS support to HSE/ NAS from its bases at Sligo, Waterford and Dublin. Bristow has identified a replacement solution and expects this issue to be resolved shortly.

BIL initially commenced services at Shannon Airport on a 24/7 basis when they took over responsibility of the Shannon base in December 2024. The contractor subsequently notified my Department that owing to delays with completion of training of newly recruited personnel it was decided, in conjunction with Coast Guard management, that a safer option was to provide daytime services only i.e. 0800 to 2000, rather than run the risk of short notice changes to full availability. The operator has since resumed delivery of 24/7 services from the Shannon base.

The operation of four bases provides a resilience for service delivery so that when individual bases become temporarily unavailable, the workload is shared amongst the other bases and the specific requirements for each mission being assessed as they arise.

I wish to assure the Deputy that during this transition phase, the continued safe, efficient, and effective aviation services for the Irish Coast Guard is the overarching priority for all concerned.