Mayo island first to get satellite emergency communications technology

By Tom Gillespie

THE national TETRA digital radio network is the secure system used by all emergency services, including gardaí, fire, ambulance, coast guard, customs and civil defence throughout Ireland.

During Storm Éowyn this year, the TETRA radio system in the health centre on Inishturk went down when the backup batteries expired, leading to a temporary loss of emergency communications on the island - an issue that affected many locations nationally.

As part of the government’s Mission Critical Communications (MCx) upgrade, the State is rolling out satellite-backed emergency communications in the island communities. This is the first of its kind in Ireland and indeed most of the EU.

Inishturk has been confirmed as the first island to receive this state-of-the-art technology.

The satellite unit has been installed and is operational for Christmas, giving the island community increased protection in the event of an emergency.

The project was delivered by Mayo County Council and the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO).

A spokesperson for the island community said: “This upgrade will significantly strengthen Inishturk’s emergency resilience during storms, outages, and severe weather events, ensuring that critical services remain connected when they are needed most.”