Community First Responders (CFRs) across Ireland are set to benefit from a new app that aims to reduce response times and deliver life-saving information directly to their mobile devices.
The National Ambulance Service (NAS) launched the app at the CFR Respond 2025 Conference in Mullingar on 27 September, describing it as “a game-changer for Ireland’s network of volunteer first responders”.
The app will initially be tested through six active CFR groups in several locations across Ireland. This testing group will be expanded to 36 by the end of Q4-2025, before it is rolled out throughout the country from January 2026.
Developed through a collaboration between the National Ambulance Service, the Health Service Executive and Nearform (the Waterford-based tech company behind the COVID Tracker app), the new CFR app will allow CFRs to receive real-time alerts, instant mapping and secure communication channels – all from one easy-to-use platform.
The NAS CFR App will bring faster response times with instant push notifications and plain-English call details, smarter navigation to an incident thanks to built-in mapping, on/off duty toggle so volunteers can manage their availability with a tap, certification tracking and reminders to keep skills up to date, and finally a two-factor authentication and fallback systems for areas with poor internet coverage.
The NAS deployed 8,522 CFR responses between January and August 2025 while growing CFR schemes nationwide to 341 groups, comprising over 4,000 dedicated volunteers.
Ger O’Dea, Community Engagement Manager with the National Ambulance Service (pictured left), who announced the launch of the new CFR App at ‘Respond 2025’ Conference in Mullingar in September, said will make it easier, quicker and safer for CFRs to respond in an emergency.
According to Robert Morton, Director of the NAS, “this app is built with our responders, for our responders. It will make it faster and easier to get to emergencies, and ensure volunteers have the tools and information they need to help our crews save lives.”
Damien McCallion, HSE’s Chief Technology and Transformation Officer, said that every minute counts in an emergency, and this technology will help save more lives in communities nationwide.
“The app is tailored exclusively for the National Ambulance Service CFR network and integrated securely within the HSE system. CFRs will continue to be central to the app’s development, with feedback shaping future updates and features,” he added.
KEY FEATURES
- Real-Time Emergency Alerts: Provides instant notifications for potential life-threatening emergencies, such as cardiac arrest.
- GPS-Guided Navigation: Offers turn-by-turn navigation to the incident location.
- Secure Communication: Includes secure channels for communication between the responder and the control centre.
- Incident Reporting: Enables responders to report on incidents directly through the app.
- Training & Support: Supports ongoing training and provides mechanisms for post-incident support and debriefing.
HOW APP WORKS
- Alerts Received: The app connects to the computer-aided dispatch system at the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), which operates across two sites in Tallaght, Dublin 24 and Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal.
- Response Guidance: When an incident occurs nearby, the app pushes an alert with incident details and a map, guiding the first responders to the location.
- In-App Support: The app can be used to communicate with the control centre and receive updates, even getting removed from a scene if it is deemed unsafe.
