Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Frank Feighan for raising this important issue and providing me with an opportunity to inform him of the Department's ongoing work to enhance the aeromedical services. The emergency aeromedical service, EAS, provides rapid access to appropriate treatment for patients specifically where land ambulance transit times would not be clinically appropriate. The service is particularly beneficial for time-dependent cardiovascular patients, who constitute about one third of all EAS patients.

EAS services are provided primarily by the Air Corps, with reserve capacity provided by the Irish Coast Guard. The service operates seven days per week in daylight hours, and it is specifically targeted at the west. The highest demand for the EAS comes from Galway, Mayo and the Senator's county, Roscommon. The service has successfully completed almost 2,000 emergency missions to date.

A pilot emergency and aeromedical service was agreed between the Ministers responsible for health and defence in January 2012. From the outset, it was agreed that the Air Corps would provide aerial support for the service and operate in daylight hours only. A subsequent review of the pilot service examined the level of service provided during daylight hours and it was found that the level was appropriate to meet the demand. In July 2015, the Government established the EAS on a permanent basis.

A Programme for a Partnership Government is committed to a feasibility study on the expansion of the EAS and its possible extension to night-time. My colleague, Minister of State, Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran, has made this a priority issue in the programme for Government. He is pushing this issue very hard.

The Department of Health and the Department of Defence are continuing to examine the programme for Government commitment to this feasibility study. The Department of Health and the national ambulance service are currently exploring the feasibility of a community-based helicopter emergency medical service in the south. While such considerations are ongoing, it is important to point out that night-time flying carries additional risks. All the risks associated with landing and departures are magnified at night. Such risks include low visibility and crew fatigue. There are also restrictions on helicopters landing at night-time in Ireland, and landings can take place only on a lit helipad or at an airport. These restrictions would significantly reduce the number of emergency incidents that the service could respond to, and it is possible that most night-time calls would, in view of the risks involved, be better served by a land vehicle.

Of course, significant additional capacity in terms of Air Corps personnel and national ambulance service paramedical staff would be required to extend the EAS to a 24-hour service.The Air Corps is faced with challenges in the recruitment and retention of personnel. In that context, and in light of the fact that ambulance activity drops significantly at night, the Department will need to consider if a 24-hour service would be the best use of limited resources.

The Irish Coast Guard operates on a 24-7 basis from its four bases at Dublin, Waterford, Shannon and Sligo. Where necessary and appropriate, it can be tasked by the National Ambulance Service.

I thank Senator Feighan for raising this important issue.