Operator of the National Emergency Call Answering Service

Description

The current contract for the operation of the Emergency Call Answering Service (ECAS) expires on the 24th of November 2025. The ECAS is responsible for answering all emergency communications, providing a vital link between the individual contacting the ECAS and the Emergency Services which include Garda, Fire, Ambulance and the Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) or, in emergencies involving aircraft, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA). Emergency communication is defined in the S.I. No. 444/2022 as communication by means of interpersonal communications services between an end-user and the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) with the goal to request and receive emergency relief from emergency services. The role of the ECAS is to establish which Emergency Service is being requested and the location of where the Emergency Services are required to attend for the purpose of routing the call to the most appropriate Emergency Services Control centre. The current contract for the operation of the Emergency Call Answering Service (ECAS) expires on the 24th of November 2025. The ECAS is responsible for answering all emergency communications, providing a vital link between the individual contacting the ECAS and the Emergency Services which include Garda, Fire, Ambulance and the Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) or, in emergencies involving aircraft, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA). Emergency communication is defined in the S.I. No. 444/2022 as communication by means of interpersonal communications services between an end-user and the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) with the goal to request and receive emergency relief from emergency services. The role of the ECAS is to establish which Emergency Service is being requested and the location of where the Emergency Services are required to attend for the purpose of routing the call to the most appropriate Emergency Services Control centre.