Air ambulance at Custume Barracks to be placed on a permanent footing – McFadden

Fine Gael Longford Westmeath TD, Gabrielle McFadden, has welcomed the confirmation today by the Minister for Defence, Simon Coveney, and the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, that the air ambulance service is to be established on a permanent basis.

“I have lobbied very hard to ensure that this vital service, which has helped save many lives, will now be a permanent one and I welcomed this news in the Dáil today.

“Since the start of the Emergency Aeromedical Support (EAS) service in the summer of 2012, the Air Corps helicopter based at Custume Barracks has completed more than a 1,000 missions.

“Many of these cases involve heart attack patients needing specialist treatment within 90 minutes.

“The Minister for Defence, Simon Coveney, also gave a commitment in the Dáil today to maintaining personnel levels at Custume Barracks. This news and the news relating to the air ambulance service confirms the strategic importance of the Barracks in Athlone.

“I also welcome the news that a future review will also explore the possibility of introducing a second helicopter.”

“The establishment of a permanent EAS service and the ongoing support to the National Ambulance Service by the Defence Forces is providing such a valuable service to people in rural communities.

“The professionalism and commitment of the Air Corps in providing a dedicated helicopter service to date has been exemplary. I know that level of dedication will continue into the future as the service is placed on a sustainable footing.”