Irish Coast Guard Responded to 2,793 Incidents During 2025
Irish Coast Guard responds to 2,793 incidents in 2025, providing life-saving assistance to 1,941 people throughout the year.
The Irish Coast Guard has released its annual figures for 2025, revealing another demanding year for the emergency service. The organisation managed 2,793 incidents throughout the year, ranging from search and rescue operations to maritime casualty responses and pollution control activities.
The 44 Coast Guard Units across Ireland were deployed 1,187 times during 2025, continuing their vital role in safeguarding communities nationwide. Coast Guard helicopters conducted 933 missions, including 190 air ambulance flights supporting offshore island communities.
In total, the Irish Coast Guard provided life-saving assistance to 1,941 individuals throughout the year, either preventing loss of life or ensuring timely access to medical care. The three Rescue Coordination Centres in Dublin, Malin and Valentia tasked RNLI lifeboats on 798 occasions and activated the community inshore rescue service 121 times during 2025.
A significant milestone was reached in the organisation's aviation capability, with AW189 helicopters operated by Bristow Ireland commencing operations from bases in Shannon, Dublin and Sligo. Fixed Wing operations also went live from Shannon in September 2025, providing strategic expansion that ensured more effective emergency response with rapid deployment and improved coverage across Ireland's coastline and inland areas.
The additional aviation capacity proved critical during 2025, a year marked by extreme and unpredictable weather conditions that placed unprecedented demands on emergency services. With increased resources and operational flexibility, the Coast Guard delivered enhanced support for Principal Response Agencies nationwide, ensuring communities affected by flooding, coastal emergencies and other weather-related incidents received assistance and life-saving interventions.
Ms Joanna Cullen, Assistant Secretary General at the Department of Transport with responsibility for the Irish Coast Guard, said:
"2025 was a year that truly tested the resilience and capability of the Irish Coast Guard. The extreme weather conditions we faced demanded rapid, coordinated responses, and I am proud of how our teams rose to the challenge. The successful transition of three bases and the introduction of Fixed Wing operations from Shannon have been game-changers, enabling us to respond faster and more effectively than ever before. These advancements, combined with the dedication of our volunteers and partners, ensured that communities across Ireland received the life-saving support they needed when it mattered most."
