The resourcing and staffing levels of the Air Corps was raised in the Dáil last month with the Taoiseach admitting it was leading to the grounding of aircraft.
It emerged this morning that the Air Corps was initially asked to provide top cover for the coastguard mission on Monday night but as no crew was available Rescue 116 had to be dispatched instead.
The Government has also admitted that the staffing shortage in the Air Corps has led to reduced availability of aircraft for the transfer of patients to hospitals for transplants.
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