Address by Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris at official opening of the new EAS Hangar Custume Barracks, Athlone

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General Officer Commanding 2 Brigade, Brigadier General Stephen Ryan; General Officer Commanding Air Corps, Brigadier General Rory O’Connor, Director of the Department of Defence, Jason Kearney.

Fellow Oireachtas Members and Councillors; Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Is mór an onóir dom cuairt a thabhairt ar Dhún Chostúim anseo i mBaile Átha Luain den chéad uair mar an tAire Cosanta.

Is beairic í seo a bhfuil stair agus traidisiún fada saibhir ag baint léi, a théann siar níos mó ná trí chéad bliain.

In ainneoin a fhaide atá an stair agus an traidisiún sin, táimid anseo inniu le hiontais na linne seo a cheiliúradh agus tús a chur le ré nua mar a osclaímid an haingear héileacaptair nua don tSeirbhís Éigeandála Aeraileighis (EAS) go hoifigiúil.

It is now nearly thirteen years since the Emergency Ambulance Service was established.

Its initial remit was to assess and support the critical health needs of our citizens, particularly in the West of Ireland, where geography and distance can pose significant challenges to accessing urgent care rapidly.

Since then - in 2015 - the government approved the establishment of an Emergency Aeromedical Support Service on a permanent basis.

Over the period that followed, the EAS service has completed more than 4,300 missions throughout the country.

As a former Minister for Health, I am acutely aware of and greatly appreciate the crucial role that the emergency aeromedical service plays in providing rapid medical response to critical situations, often in remote or hard-to-reach areas.

However, I think it’s important sometimes for us all to look our words and abbreviations and consider what we truly mean.

This is a service that has saved lives, that has been a gamechanger for Rural Ireland.

It’s a service that has ensured some of our sickest patients received emergency care at the most critical of periods.

It’s a service that is provided 365 days of the year - making such an incredible difference to so many families the length and breadth of our State.

A chairde,

The new hangar that I am very proud to open today provides sufficient storage and working space for the Air Corps Aircraft technicians to fully complete their daily inspections of the aircraft.

It is a re-deployable fully insulated all-weather structure, which replaces the original temporary tent-type hangar structure, first deployed in 2012.

Moreover, the design allows for extension works if required, to provide hangarage for an additional AW139 helicopter.

It will also protect the aircraft from environmental conditions including high winds, heavy rainfall, snow and ice and will facilitate sheltered maintenance, which will contribute to the aircraft’s availability to continue to provide a 365 day response service from Custume Barracks.

The construction of this upgraded hangar supports the highest aviation safety and reliability standards and reflects the government’s commitment to enhancing and modernising Defence Forces infrastructure right across the State.

Above all, it reflects our commitment to ensuring the safe transportation and in-flight care of vulnerable patients during potentially traumatic moments.

I want to assure those who have used this service or who may at some stage in the future, that the health and well-being of our citizens is the absolute priority driving the EAS.

This investment today, in my view, exemplifies the government’s commitment to improving emergency care throughout the country.

Each mission represents a direct intervention to safeguard someone's health, often reaching critically ill or injured patients, where time is paramount for survival and recovery.

A chairde,

The Air Corps' involvement is fundamental to achieving these positive health outcomes and, as Minister for Defence, I wish to acknowledge the hard work, dedication and professionalism of the people involved in providing this service.

Your contribution to this service, and above all to patient care, is nothing short of exemplary.

And so, I stand here today, proud to continue building on the Air Corps' almost 13-year record of serving the critical health needs of the people of this region through the rapid response and expert care provided by the EAS.

Before I conclude, please let me acknowledge all of those between this project, without whom we would not be here today.

Thank you for your hard work and dedication in bringing about about the successful delivery and conclusion of this project.

I particularly want to thank the personnel in the Defence Forces’ Directorate of Engineering for their hard work on this project and colleagues from the Department of Defence involved in the project.

I’d also like to thank Weatherhaven Global Solutions on the fantastic work they’ve done constructing the new hangar and executing this work to an extremely high standard.

Thank you for your time and attention.

And so, without further ado, it gives me great honour to declare this EAS Hangar here in Custume Barracks officially open.

Go raibh mile maith agaibh go léir.