24-hour air ambulance service begins today

The country's first ever 24-hour air ambulance service will begin operating this morning at Dublin Airport.

Up until now, the AeroMedevac service came from Weston Airport and was restricted to flying only in daylight hours.

The operator anticipates it will make up to 100 repatriations and patient transfers within the next year.

The announcement comes just weeks after Leitrim teenager Maeve McGivern failed to get a liver transplant because of a delay in providing her with transportation to take her to a London hospital.

Meave is now back on the waiting list, and her father Joe said that this new service is "of great relief and comfort to parents like us and we hope that it continues".