Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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36. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to outline the capacity of the Air Corps to provide air ambulance services. [27761/18]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Minister of State comment on the capacity of the Air Corps to provide air ambulance services given the recent contract to grant the service to a commercial company for night-time ambulance services? The contract comes at a cost of €7 million to the Exchequer for a two-year period.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The Air Corps provides a broad range of services in accordance with its primary security role. It also undertakes a diverse range of non-security-related tasks on an as-available basis, including the provision of air ambulance services to the HSE. The HSE aeromedical desk in the national emergency operations centre is responsible for the co-ordination of all health-related air transport arrangements. In addition to the Air Corps, the Coast Guard and private air ambulance operators also provide air transport services for the HSE.

Capacity constraints within the Air Corps have impacted on the services it provides, including services provided to the HSE. Notwithstanding this, the Air Corps continues to provide significant air ambulance support to the HSE. The Air Corps inter-hospital service operates out of Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel. The service provides transport for patients and medical teams between hospitals within Ireland and abroad. In 2017, the Air Corps completed 46 inter-hospital missions, including two priority transfers to the UK of children requiring organ transplants. The Air Corps also operates the emergency aero-medical support service. It is a daily, daytime service based in Custume Barracks in Athlone. Since the commencement of this service in June 2012, the Air Corps has completed more than 2,000 missions, with 357 missions during 2017.

The emergency aero-medical support and inter-hospital services are good examples of the Air Corps and HSE combining their resources to deliver life-saving services for the people.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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The original question had an extra part that was ruled out of order. I wanted to ask whether the Department had tendered for the contract at all. It is obvious from the answer that there is no capacity within the Air Corps to go beyond what it is supplying at the moment. That is a poor reflection on Defence Forces management because the Air Corps has been unable to retain pilots, air traffic controllers or those who could operate some of the equipment and planes. I saw the equipment and planes when a delegation from the committee with responsibility for defence visited Baldonnel. The equipment basically sits in the hangars at night because insufficient cover is available.

When will the capacity of the Air Corps be increased to allow it to deliver not only on its existing commitments but on additional support for the civil power so that we do not have to go to the private sector to deliver air transport for sick children whether within the island or overseas for emergency and other operations

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The HSE undertook a formal tendering process for the provision of air ambulance services to transfer priority 1 paediatric transplant patients to the UK between 7 p.m. and 7.30 a.m. I am advised that three private companies bid for the contract. Following completion of the competitive process, the contract was awarded to Air Alliance Express and will be in place for a two-year period. I understand it is envisaged that the most of the patients who are expected to use the service will be children who need to go to the UK to undergo major organ transplants. The Air Alliance Express service has been in operation since 23 April 2018. Given the capacity constraints on the Air Corps, it would not be possible for it to deliver the requirements sought by the HSE.

I confirm that my Department did not tender for the service.

I have outlined to the Deputy and other Members the constraints and issues within the Air Corps, including the retention of pilots. I have addressed on numerous occasions in the House the pathway we are taking to address the issues within the Air Corps. This will involve the Public Service Pay Commission.

We have made a submission to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Public Service Pay Commission regarding pilot retention.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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I wish the company that won the tender, Air Alliance Medflight, well. We do not want to see any gap in service, but at some stage the Defence Forces must have a capability to deliver and be an aid for the civil power. This is a €7 million contract over two years. In a response to a parliamentary question in 2014, I was told that the costs of providing this service by the Air Corps would have been approximately €1.3 million. There is no logic to continuing to look to the private sector. We should look to invest in the Air Corps and increase its ability to deliver this service. When I visited Baldonnel, I spoke to members of the Air Corps who were eager to deliver and to help and be an aid to the civil power in the context of air ambulance transports. They would like to be able to extend the service they currently give during daytime. However, there seems to be no urgency to increase the capacity to deal with the issues where it seems impossible for the Air Corps to retain staff or attract the experts who will help deliver such as service into the future.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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We are currently investing in new planes and replacing the CASA aircraft. We also have a service level agreement with the HSE. As with other areas of the public service, there have been challenges in recruitment and retention of personnel, particularly in areas of expertise such as air traffic controllers and pilots. Retirements of highly experienced Air Corps personnel are exceeding the number of replacement personnel being recruited and trained. The loss of experienced personnel is driven by a range of factors including the availability of attractive job opportunities in the private sector. Pilots are much sought after in the private sector and are being offered attractive remuneration. Significant work is under way within the defence bodies and in the Department aimed at improving the capacity of the Air Corps. A return to previous capacity levels will be gradual. I would love it if we were able to meet all of the requests made under the service level agreement. I met the Minister for Health and the HSE management on this. We have given them plenty of warning about the challenges we face.