Maybe it's a cunningly crafted plan to force procurement issues - at the present rate of attrition of Puma airframes in NI it wont take the pig drivers long to trash them all. Once all the cabs are gone then the powers that be can either a. withdraw all RAF assets and leave NI to the AAC or b. buy a proper SH helicopter that goes fast, lifts lots and was designed for the job.
The chinooks are busy elsewhere, the Merlins are too big and the SKs are all knackered. FBS contract for SH ops using 412 anyone???