Strandhill search and rescue contract debacle continues

The debacle over the new coast guard search and rescue contract has continued after it’s been confirmed that it has been pushed back year. It is the latest in a long line of issues for new operators Bristow Ireland Limited, who signed the contract to take over CHC Ireland, including in Sligo last December. A decision was previously made in February to postpone the new operating system at its Strandhill base following safety concerns about the timing of the transition between two different contractors. While last week it emerged that there was an issue whereby the new helicopters were banned from carrying injured people on stretchers.  The Department of Transport have now confirmed that a full agreement is now in place for deployment from 2026, saying that it “involves no additional cost to the exchequer”. Local Councillor Dónal Gilroy feels it’s another blow to the service.