Frank Feighan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his detailed response. I am encouraged that the Irish Coast Guard, located in Sligo and Shannon, can provide an air ambulance service at night.

Five years ago, the provision of this air ambulance service came as a direct result of Roscommon hospital’s accident and emergency department being downgraded. People were quite certain that lives would be lost. I know this service is what the consultants in Roscommon hospital wanted. I am delighted the service was delivered and that it has been a huge success. In the past month, I know of five people personally, from Ballintober, Roscommon town, Boyle and Castlerea, whose lives have been saved because of this air ambulance. People do not fully realise the changes it has brought about. Effectively, the accident and emergency department has been brought to people on the side of the road. Modern medicine has evolved in such a way that it is now necessary to have an air ambulance in this area. The service has saved dozens of lives in County Roscommon.

We need to look at providing such a service for the island of Ireland, like in the south and around the midlands. If we are talking about cross-Border co-operation and the Good Friday Agreement, there needs to be one in Northern Ireland to cover all of that area also.