The European Commission says it has approved a €5 million Irish scheme to support "charity operators" of helicopter emergency medical services in Ireland affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

The aid will not exceed €2.3 million per beneficiary; and will be granted no later than June 30th 2022, according to the Commission.

It was approved under the State aid temporary framework, and will take the form of direct grants, it says.

There is one charity HEMS service in the Republic – the Irish Community Air Ambulance based in Rathcoole Aerodrome in Co Cork.

The European Commission says the measure is aimed at mitigating the liquidity shortages that the beneficiaries are facing and at ensuring the operation of a vital emergency medical service.

The Commission said it found that the Irish scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the Temporary Framework, whereby the measure is “necessary, appropriate and proportionate to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of a member state”

“On this basis, the Commission approved the measure under EU State aid rules,” it said.