Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 1: To ask the Minister for Defence if a medevac helicopter is located at the Irish battalion headquarters in Chad; if not, the location of the nearest medevac helicopter to the battalion headquarters in Chad; the approximate flying time from there to the battalion headquarters and from that headquarters to the nearest level 2 medical facility; the approximate flying time from the furthest extremity of the Irish area of operations to the nearest level 2 medical facility; if the medevac helicopters available can operate in all weathers; the alternative arrangements that have been made in the event of the helicopters not being able to operate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20061/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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In view of the fact that the Minister has made a commitment to provide whatever backup services are required, will he ensure that a medevac helicopter is provided at Goz Beida at all times? It takes approximately an hour to get from Abeche to Goz Beida by helicopter and if it must carry on to the outer extremity of the section the Irish mission will control, it could take up to two hours. The Minister mentioned one hour 50 minutes but I have no doubt he is aware of the golden hour in that when somebody is seriously injured on the field they are taken to a level 2 military hospital within an hour. From what the Minister said earlier, that requirement cannot be fulfilled. I appeal to the Minister that if the proper medical service is to be available to our troops, it should be provided at Goz Beida. I am aware he is examining the possibility of further helicopters being provided. The Minister should insist on that because the feedback I am getting indicates there is concern that such a service is not available.

Is the Minister aware that the rainy season is about to commence, which will coincide with the arrival of the main part of the Irish mission, and that at times it will be impossible for jeeps to travel over land because of widespread flooding in the Irish sector? Also, there is a concern that because of atmospheric conditions helicopters may not be able to travel long distances because of fuelling capacity. Has that aspect been considered? If, for example, helicopters cannot——

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The time has almost expired.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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——perform the duty, what alternative arrangements will be in place at that time?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I understand Deputy Deenihan's question but he appears to have a misconception of what is meant by the golden hour. The golden hour is the availability of immediate medical treatment and, as I said in my initial reply, any Irish patrol going out on operation will be accompanied by one or more medical officers and a number of other people who are medically qualified, some of whom will be paramedics. They will be available to provide treatment immediately. We have found that in many cases the patient needs to be stabilised, even if they have to be taken to a level 1 or level 2 hospital subsequently. That is the reality on the ground.

Deputy Deenihan asked if I was aware of the situation and I have discussed it with various people. As late as this morning, I discussed the matter with the Chief of Staff and the operation commander, Lieutenant General Nash. They have both assured me, and asked me to communicate to the House, that they are perfectly satisfied with the arrangements in place. In fact, in so far as the travelling times are concerned, I recall——

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The time for this question has concluded.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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——the situation in Liberia where the helicopters were based in Monrovia, which was about twice as far away from where the Irish troops were patrolling. We had fewer medical facilities, fewer air assets and further distances to travel in Liberia. This is one of the best supported missions from the point of view of safety in which we have ever engaged.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 2: To ask the Minister for Defence the position regarding the plans for members of the Reserve Defence Force to serve on overseas missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20166/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The White Paper on Defence outlines the blue print for a new Reserve Defence Force. This blueprint outlined a new reserve with a clearly defined role, an enhanced relationship with the Permanent Defence Force, better equipment and training and opportunities for reservists to serve on overseas peace support missions.

An implementation plan has been developed that will ensure the realisation of the White Paper vision. The plan is being rolled out over the period to the end of 2009. There has been significant progress to date in implementing the detailed recommendations of the plan, for example, a new organisation structure implemented and major improvements in clothing, equipment, training and resourcing. In addition, the reserve is now organised along similar lines to the PDF and the development of the integrated element of the reserve is in its second year. All of these changes are enhancing the capabilities of the reserve as well as improving interoperability with the PDF. These factors are significant enablers in facilitating future participation by reserve personnel in overseas missions.

An Agreed Programme for Government contains the commitment to fully execute the Reserve Defence Force, RDF, implementation plan by the end 2009 target, including the introduction of procedures to allow suitably qualified RDF personnel serve on overseas duties.

There are no plans for participation by members of the reserve in overseas missions in the current year. However, it is hoped that a small number of reservists will be available to serve overseas by the end of next year, 2009. As specified in the plan, any such participation by members of the reserve is likely to be in specialised areas such as medical, transport, engineering and communications and information services. This will also be subject to personnel having suitable qualifications, their personal availability and appropriate advance training.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. Coming from Kildare I am aware of the great interest in the Defence Forces and the Army reserve. What are the current numbers in regard to the reserve? What is the age profile of reservists? In the groups I am aware of many of them are young people and, therefore, overseas missions will play a major part in their willingness to continue in the Reserve Defence Force.

In that regard, how will the Minister balance the obvious need highlighted in other reports about a shortage in the Medical Corps and so on with increasing interest among members of the Reserve Defence Force to serve overseas in a medical capacity or whatever? How can we generate that interest and ensure they continue to participate and that it is not just a seven day whim for them to be members of the Defence Forces? We must ensure that we see a continued growth in that regard.

The first movement in that direction will see a whole new emphasis as regards the reserve forces. Given the age profile, does this mean that a good many young people are really interested in this? The follow-on from it should be that as we move forward there will be far greater participation from the reserve Defence Forces overseas, to complement the Permanent Defence Force.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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As regards Deputy Wall's first question, the number, I am informed, is 8,265 of which 7,914 are Army and 317 are Naval Service. I do not have the age profile, although it has reduced considerably in recent years. I shall get that detail for Deputy Wall. On how to create an interest, I suppose the best way is to encourage people to join the reserve and discourage them from leaving it once they join. The section of the White Paper concerned with the reserve force is all about that. There is better training, equipment and resourcing as well as the development of the integrated reserve. Development of the latter has been much slower than we thought, yet it is coming on considerably as of last year. These reforms must be put in place. We have now done that and are allowing them to be bedded down. There are two other simultaneous steps. One is the development of the frontline reserve, which we are hoping to find a useful role for and we are looking at a report on that. The second is the question of allowing reservists to serve overseas. In this regard, next year we are hoping to have a limited number of reservists who will be enabled to serve overseas. Depending on the experience gained from that participation, we shall develop this. Obviously, it will require discussions with employers etc. I anticipate that sufficient numbers of people will be available without getting into changing labour law, having agreements with IBEC or whatever, to start the initiative. From inquiries I am getting, there is quite a degree of interest. I have no doubt that when we decide on a quota of reservists, we shall be sending them overseas next year. It will probably be in technical areas such as transport, engineering, communications etc., but I have no doubt we shall have no difficulty whatsoever in fulfilling that quota.