Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Cooney has requested the Minister for Transport to investigate why the procurement of a new operator for the Irish Coast Guard Search and Rescue (SAR) Helicopter base in Shannon has resulted in the service being unable to attend medical evacuation calls on behalf of the HSE.
Deputy Cooney said Bristow Ireland, unlike the previous operator CHC Ireland, is currently not licensed to take stretchers onboard if responding to an emergency medical support call-out due to Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) regulatory approvals not being met.
The Clare TD, while acknowledging that Department has confirmed that full resumption of HEMS is anticipated, expressed his concern that a vital component of the service previously provided by CHC Ireland was not prioritised during the procurement process.
Deputy Cooney has also asked for clarity on why Bristow Ireland only assumed full 24-hour cover at Shannon on April 1st, almost 5 months after it commenced operating from 8am to 8pm at Shannon, suggesting that the terms of the new contract were not adhered to.
“The Department of Transport faces serious questions about its procurement process and the resulting gap in emergency medical response coverage from the Shannon base,” he explained. “Given the well documented delays in ambulance cover for much of County Clare, and the reliance on, and importance of, the helicopter to provide the necessary emergency medical cover, the concerns expressed to me by constituents have revolved around the impact this issue might have had for those in need of such a critical service.”
Deputy Cooney continued, “At present, Shannon is the only one of the four bases operating under the new contract. Bristow Ireland is scheduled to commence operations at Dublin Weston on 1 July 2025, Sligo on 16 December 2025, and Waterford on 1 February 2026. The absurdity of the situation is underscored by the fact that, due to the failure to meet the 30 June deadline for Bristow Ireland’s commencement at Dublin, Waterford and Sligo, CHC Ireland is still responding to medical evacuation calls on behalf of the HSE from these bases.”
Deputy Cooney also pointed out that Bristow Ireland has yet to move into its own hangars at its base in Shannon and is currently sharing a hangar with an aircraft maintenance company.
“I have spoken with the Department and will be asking the Minister to review the procurement process,” he stated. “Clearly a vital piece of the service was omitted from the tendering process, an acknowledgement of these shortcomings is important in identifying the lessons that need to be learned here.”
In a written response issued this week to Deputy Cooney in response to his Parliamentary Question, the Department of Transport stated, “On 8th April 2025, Bristow Ireland was notified by Irish Aviation Authority that the stretcher arrangement in use required modification to meet Helicopter Emergency Medical Support (HEMS) regulatory approvals. This decision does not apply to Helicopter Search and Rescue Operations and only applies to the Shannon base.
The Coast Guard continues to provide nationwide HEMS support to the National Ambulance Service from its bases at Sligo, Waterford and Dublin. My department has been notified by Bristow Helicopters that it will shortly have a revised solution in place and anticipates full resumption of HEMS, shortly thereafter. It is important to note that this review has no impact on provision of day and night aeromedical support to the offshore island communities, from any of the four bases.”
