The Irish Coast Guard faced another busy and challenging year in 2025, responding to 2,793 incidents across the country. Their work ranged from search and rescue operations to maritime casualty responses, pollution control, and preparedness activities.
A total of 44 Coast Guard Units were deployed 1,187 times, with helicopters completing 933 missions, including 190 air ambulance flights to support offshore island communities. In all, 1,941 people received life-saving assistance, either preventing loss of life or ensuring rapid access to medical care.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats were launched on 798 occasions, while the community inshore rescue service was activated 121 times.
A significant development in 2025 was the expansion of aviation capability. The new AW189 helicopters operated by Bristow Ireland began flying from bases in Shannon, Dublin, and Sligo, while Fixed Wing operations started from Shannon in September. This increase in resources has allowed the Coast Guard to respond more quickly and cover more of Ireland’s coastline and inland areas.
The year was marked by extreme and unpredictable weather, placing high demands on emergency services. The additional aviation support and coordinated efforts with Principal Response Agencies ensured communities affected by flooding, coastal emergencies, and other weather-related incidents received timely help.
Joanna Cullen, Assistant Secretary General at the Department of Transport, said: “2025 tested the resilience and capability of the Irish Coast Guard. The extreme weather conditions required fast and coordinated responses, and our teams rose to the challenge. The new aviation operations and the dedication of our volunteers and partners ensured communities across Ireland got the life-saving support they needed when it mattered most.”
