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By Sean Moriarty

The Irish Community Rapid Response (ICRR), which operates the volunteer air ambulance service based in Millstreet, has avoided being grounded for the time being.

Last week, the Killarney Advertiser reported that the service faced an uncertain future as ICRR no longer had enough funds to pay bills like fuel and pilots wages.

The local air ambulance service has been in operation since last July and has flown on over 350 missions.

It faced grounding on Friday last unless urgent funds were found, and despite cross-party lobbying the Government did not support the service.

All seemed lost until the helicopter’s provider Sloane Helicopters and its leasing partner, Milestone Aviation, offered a six-week break in leasing payments.

“I want to say a big thank you to Sloane helicopters for supporting the Irish people in these dark times, allowing the air ambulance, in the short term, to go on saving lives,” John Finnegan, volunteer chairperson of ICRR, said.

“It was apparent this week even with all the political support that was provided by a number of cross-party politicians that were lobbied by concerned members of the public, no interim financial support is going to come from the Government.”
The lifeline has given the Air Ambulance vital chance of survival but Mr Finnegan is calling on Irish-based multinational companies to help offset some of the costs.

He cited UK based fuel supplier BP’s support of similar Air Ambulance Services in England and Wales.

“BP has come in to sponsor the helicopter fuel for the air ambulance services [over there],” he added, “We need a number of companies based in Ireland to please step up and be brand partners with us so we can continue the delivery of this life-saving service.”

Anyone who is in a position to help is urged to contact ICRR on 021 4190 999 as soon as possible.