Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 86: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will enter into discussions with the Department of Defence in regard to the use of military helicopters to transport very ill cancer patients requiring radiotherapy treatment either for therapy or palliative care and living outside Dublin, Cork or Galway, for that treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15796/05]

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 87: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will enter into discussions with the HSE regarding the provision of a helicopter service to transport very ill cancer patients requiring radiotherapy treatment either for therapy or palliative care and living outside Dublin, Cork and Galway, for that treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15797/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 87 together.

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the Health Service Executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services.

I consider that appropriate transport arrangements for patients requiring radiotherapy should be made available, where necessary, by the Health Service Executive. Accordingly, at my request, my Department has asked the director of the National Hospitals Office to examine the provision of road transport for such patients as a priority.

Inter-hospital air ambulance services are currently provided by the Air Corps and the Irish Coastguard to facilitate the emergency transfer of patients. The service is provided subject to the availability of the necessary aircraft and other operational considerations. My Department, in consultation with the Health Service Executive, is currently finalising a service-level agreement with the Department of Defence to formalise arrangements for the future provision of this service.