Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I compliment the Department and the Coast Guard on the roll-out of the new fleet of helicopters. In recent times the extended capability on the west coast has been well utilised. I had an opportunity to interact with the local base in my constituency and it is a very well-run project. Discussions were held about utilising some spare capacity on the Coast Guard's contract.

It was suggested that it could be used to do some ambulance-type work in association with the Health Service Executive, HSE. A suggestion was made several years ago that while training the pilots and the advanced paramedics, they could be doing something of purpose to the State at no additional cost to the State. Have discussions progressed in this area?