I think the figure for the Air Corps is closer to €1m. At the start anyway, this figure came from existing funds as opposed to an extra budget. Either way, it’s a rounding error for the HSE instead of a big chunk o cash from the Air Corps budget and pretty good value for a AW139 based service.
The larger number might also include money paid to IRCG and ICRR when they fly jobs over and above their SLAs ie when Athlone is unavailable. It might also include the money paid to the FW contract in Dublin airport for international transfers. Subject to confirmation by a HSE accountant!
The charity based service is back on line now, thankfully, but a charity model in an AO centred on West Cork was always going to have issues based purely on the population density there to draw funds from. There’s at least one HIQUA report that sites a GASU style model as their preferred option, so they’re obviously happy enough with what they’re getting.
I do agree, that by whatever mechanism the service is provided, state funded is the way to go.