www.military.ie
The Air Corps also form an integral part of the State's Air Defence capability, providing airspace policing on regular VIP visits to the State. The Air Corps annually fly almost 3,000 mission hours including maritime patrols in support of the Naval Service, safeguarding Ireland's interests at sea.
Support
The Defence Forces support a wide variety of Government Agencies on a daily basis, making vital contributions to the lives of Irish citizens. The Defence Forces train and prepare for contingencies, including the maintenance of essential services in support of local authorities. During the heavy snowfalls of recent winters almost 3,500 personnel and over a thousand vehicles were deployed on Aid to the Civil Authority Operations. They provided vital relief to stricken communities in addition to transporting health care workers and patients, thereby ensuring that the national health system could function effectively. A fundamental role of the Air Corps is to support the Army by providing military air transport for troops, including the elite Army Ranger Wing, on a regular basis.
The Naval Service have numerous service protocols in place which support a wide variety of agencies. It participates in SAR operations in support of the Coast guard providing on-scene coordination for search operations, and undertook a large number of Naval Service diving operations, often carrying out marine accident investigation and body recovery operations for persons lost at sea.
