# Air ambulance to continue despite controversy

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/08/04/air-ambulance-continue-despite-controversy/
- Published: 2009-08-04T09:03:47+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

Ireland Air Ambulance (IAA) has vowed to continue operations despite recent revelations
about its finances and the viability of its plans to launch an air ambulance in 
Ireland.

 

Last month the BBC reported that IAA has spent nearly 90% of its first year income
on fundraising and administration and that its plans to establish an air ambulance
had not received the backing of emergency or health authorities in Ireland.

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In a statement on its website IAA says it has raised nearly £700,000 towards the
cost of operating an air ambulance.

 

“We have done this in good faith to meet a genuine charitable need. Our fundraising
has always focused on creating a ‘sustainable’ programme. With continued support
we are close to realising our ambition to launch this vital life saving service,”
the statement says.

 

IAA is unapologetic about its finances and says its high fundraising and administration
cost ‘has been confirmed as normal by the NI Charities Commission and a leading 
accountancy firm.’ The NI Charities Commission has recently appointed board members
but is not yet operational in Northern Ireland.

 

The website also reveals that two of the charity’s three trustees are close relations
of the senior staff member. One of the trustees is the wife of its manager while
another is a sister in law.

 

IAA’s last set of audited accounts were for the year ending March 2007 and it now
says ‘that although there was no legal requirement to undergo an audit in 2007-2008[
18 months] this was insisted upon by the Trustees.’

 

www.irelandairambulance.org

 

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