Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 March 2022
211. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport the protocol in relation to the request by first responders for Coast Guard helicopters 112 and 115 to attend medical emergencies on land by night. [11160/22]
View answerUnder the National SAR Plan the Coast Guard is the designated authority for coordinating maritime search and rescue (SAR). Coast Guard helicopters are authorised to conduct inland SAR missions by Day and Night. Such missions include, Inland waterway searches, inland searches for missing persons, mountain rescue and situations where access to, and extraction of the casualty, is not safe for an ambulance crew.
In addition to their primary Search and Rescue roles, Coast Guard Helicopter services are made available to the National Ambulance Service on a request and availability basis for Air Ambulance Services including inland Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS). Requests for Coast Guard helicopters from parties such as first responders are processed in the first instance by the National Ambulance Service. Under existing arrangements Commercial Air Transport Rules apply to HEMS services which renders them unavailable between 11pm and 0730
Call sign 115 is used by the Shannon based Coast Guard Helicopter. Callsign 112 is assigned to the Air Corps.
