Ireland’s first privately funded air ambulance service is set to become operational within the next six weeks. The north of the country will continue to be serviced from the Rescue 112 Air Corps helicopter based in Athlone. The air ambulance will be run by the Irish Community Rapid Response (ICRR) - a charity dedicated to pre-hospital care - and it will cost €2 million a year to operate. It will be tasked through the National Ambulance Service 999 / 112 call system. Mr Kearney maintains the air ambulance will operate seven days a week and will be critical in getting emergency cases from inaccessible locations to hospitals.

Source: The Irish Times September 21, 2018 15:00 UTC