Defence Minister Giving Unequivocal Gurantee Over Athlone Air Ambulance

He's giving assurances to Senator Gabrielle McFadden.

The Minister of State for Defence is giving an unequivocal guarantee regarding the Air Ambulance will remain in the midlands. 

Paul Kehoe was replying to a question by Westmeath Senator Gab McFadden following the announcement that the service is being stood down for four days per month until February, due to a shortage of pilots

A charity-funded air ambulance service will provide a spare aircraft to replace the stood-down service over the 16 days.

Minister Kehoe says new pilots are will be trained over the coming months to ensure there will be cover in the future: 

But Senator McFadden says it's disappointing that we must rely on a helicopter provided by charity in this day and age. 

Minister Paul Kehoe disagrees - he believes the community element in the service is vital:

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