Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

If a medical emergency arises, the most important aspect is that the troops in question have immediate access to appropriate medical care to treat any injuries and, if necessary, stabilise the patient. In the case of the Defence Forces contingent in Chad, three doctors, along with a team of fully trained emergency medical technicians, will be deployed with the force in Goz Beida at all times and will accompany troops when they are out on patrol. In the event of an injury, the medical personnel will stabilise the patient and determine the further care requirements and the optimum way to provide such care. In some cases that may be a return to the Irish base in an ambulance and onward transmission to a role 2 facility in Abeche, with subsequent medevac or repatriation from Abeche. In some cases it may be that the further care required is to evacuate the patient from the area of the incident to a safe area where a helicopter can land and then medevac to a role 1 or role 2 facility.

A medevac helicopter is currently located in Abeche. Two other helicopters being provided by Poland will also be located in Abeche. Three other medium lift helicopters and a fixed wing medevac aircraft will be located at N'Djamena. A landing area and fuel supplies are available at the Irish base in Goz Beida. Helicopters, therefore, could be deployed forward from Abeche to Goz Beida as required. Arrangements for the deployment of additional helicopters and fixed wing aircraft from Russia and the Ukraine are currently being finalised.

I am assured by the military authorities that they are fully satisfied with the existing arrangements. However, as a contingency, the option of having a helicopter based full-time in Goz Beida is currently under examination and further planning is ongoing in that regard. I assure the House that if there is a requirement to base helicopters in Goz Beida, that will be done.

Regarding the other detailed and specific information sought by the Deputy, the following is the position. Abeche, where the medevac helicopters and role 2 facility is located, is approximately 190 km from Goz Beida and just over one hour flying time. The maximum flying duration from the most extreme possible point of the Irish operations to a role 2 facility is one hour and 50 minutes. The medevac helicopters can operate in all-weather conditions and have night flying capability. In addition, the air strip at Goz Beida can accommodate a fixed wing medevac aircraft.

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