Profits at the company that operates the €500m State contract to provide helicopter Search and Rescue — SAR — services last year increased eight-fold to €3.4m.

The firm that operates the €500m state contract to provide helicopter Search and Rescue (SAR) services last year returned to profit after revenues jumped by 46% to €42m.

Average salaries of €100,000 each for the 113 staff at the firm operating the €500m state contract to provide helicopter Search and Rescue (SAR) services contributed to losses at the firm increasing by 13% to €3.1m last year.

THE widow of a fisherman who died in a trawler accident has pleaded with the Government to review the scramble times for night-time helicopter rescue missions.