Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

He is also very witty.

I would also like to be associated with the expressions of sympathy on the passing of former Deputy Seymour Crawford. I knew Seymour and found him very pleasant company. I extend my condolences to his loved ones.

This month we have seen the introduction of an air ambulance service in the south-west area based in Cork. The new service is run by Irish Community Rapid Response, a group whose work deserves to be commended. It provides airlifts of patients to specialist units arising out of accidents and other emergency events, such as cardiac arrests and strokes. The service is being established voluntarily along a charity model and will, I understand, cost €2 million per annum, all of which will be funded by local contributions. Amazingly, this service will provide a 20 minute response time to a 10,000 mile area. I understand that is its capacity. It is a fantastic initiative, which is fully deserving of State support.

It was my colleague, Senator Feighan, who raised a Commencement matter on this general topic in June of last year. The Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, gave an update to the House on the Department of Health's work in expanding such services. Senator Feighan correctly pointed out that air ambulance services had been vital in saving lives in the Roscommon area following the downgrading of the accident and emergency unit in Roscommon hospital. As I understand it, the vast majority of existing air ambulance cover is currently provided by the Air Corps with back-up provided by the Irish Coast Guard. Perhaps this model of charity-based and voluntary air ambulance services, as we see with the new service in counties Cork and Kerry, could be a means of helping to bridge any gaps in cover across the country.

Last year, the Minister of State agreed with Senator Feighan that there was ample scope for a cross-Border service to be put in place serving Ulster counties. It strikes me that such a service would be especially useful in areas such as County Donegal, where it was reported a few months ago that, over a four-week period, 130 people who had called an ambulance from Letterkenny hospital had to wait for more than an hour. Such circumstances are indefensible and we need to examine possible new solutions.

We should debate this matter to get an update from the Minister on any gaps in air ambulance cover; to explore whether the voluntary charity model might be a means of addressing gaps and whether grant aid or tax incentives can be provided for such community or voluntary schemes; and to find out if there has been any progress on the possibility of establishing cross-Border services, which the Minister of State appears to favour and which might assist more isolated rural areas in the north and north west, such as County Donegal. I would be glad to be brought up to date, as I am sure other Senators would be, on any developments.