'This is going to save lives': Plans for 24/7 air ambulance base in North Cork get green light

It comes after objection to the plans for the aerodrome in Rathcoole, outside Millstreet, was withdrawn on Monday

The plans for the development project also include a new operations and paramedic base building, the demolition of an existing helipad, and construction of a new helipad 'all associated with the HSE Air Ambulance'. File picture

Plans for a 24/7 air ambulance service in North Cork are to go ahead after an objection against a planned runway expansion was dropped.

An application by Rathcool Flying Club for the construction of a new hard-surfaced runway and taxiway, as well as ground lighting, and the demolition and replacement of a hangar, was granted permission by Cork County Council early last month.

However, a single objection was lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála at the end of June, resulting in plans for a community meeting on Friday evening next by locals angered by the objection.

The objection was withdrawn on Monday, with the planned expansion expected to get underway in the coming weeks.

The aerodrome in Rathcoole, outside Millstreet, is the base for the air ambulance service, which is now operated by the HSE, which took over the service in 2023. Currently, because there is no runway lighting, the aircraft cannot land at its base in hours of darkness.

The plans for the development project also include a new operations and paramedic base building, the demolition of an existing helipad, and construction of a new helipad “all associated with the HSE Air Ambulance”. 

A new wastewater treatment system, the closure of an existing entrance onto the L-5215-0 road and the opening of a new one at a new location on the same road are also included in the plans.

Mayor of County Cork and local councillor Bernard Moynihan said he is looking forward to “turning the sod” for the development project in the coming weeks after being involved in discussions over the weekend to ensure that the plans could go ahead.

He said it is great news for Munster that the project can go ahead, pointing out that the air ambulance has served as far up the country as Clew Bay, off Co Mayo.

He added: “If they pick up somebody and had to take them to a Dublin hospital, until now they had to leave the helicopter in Dublin. They could not leave again until it was bright in the morning. But they will now be able to leave and land in Rathcoole no matter what time. 

"It will be a 24/7 service now. It wasn’t before this. I believe this is going to save lives.” 

The air ambulance service was launched in 2019 through a community-funded model by Irish Community Air Ambulance before the State took over the service in 2023.

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Locals had organised a community meeting to take place in Dromtarriffe on Friday night, but that meeting has now been called off. 

A group set up to fight for the plans for the expansion of the site at Rathcoole felt that the inability of the crew and helicopter to return to its base after darkness fell reduced its service availability “and potentially impacts those who may require emergency air ambulance support".

It is understood that the new lighting will not be used to facilitate night-time take-offs from the facility and will be used solely to allow landings.

Some 26 conditions were attached to the permission granted by Cork County Council. Among the conditions is that “the total number of aircraft movements at the site shall not exceed 4,499 movements in any calendar year”.