Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 607: To ask the Minister for Defence his views on whether the air ambulance service provided by the Air Corps should be on more than an as is basis as these new helicopter types will have the capacity of being configured for the ambulance role, in view of the fact that parts of west Mayo have no ambulance base; if he has formalised the arrangements for the provision of the air ambulance service with the Department of Health and Children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31474/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Health and Children is responsible for policy formation in respect of pre-hospital emergency care and the Health Service Executive has statutory responsibility for the provision of ambulance services throughout the State. A detailed service level agreement for the provision of an air ambulance service by the Air Corps, prepared by my Department and the Department of Health and Children, in consultation with the Health Service Executive and the Defence Forces, which are all signatories to the agreement, has recently been finalised and signed. The agreement sets out the range of the service to be provided by the Air Corps, specifically interhospital transfers for spinal and serious injuries and illnesses, air transport of neonates requiring immediate medical intervention within Ireland, air transport of patients requiring organ transplants in the United Kingdom, air transport of organ harvest teams within Ireland and air transport of patients from offshore islands to mainland hospitals where the Irish Coast Guard service is not available.

Both of the new helicopter types will have the capacity of being configured for the air ambulance role and an air ambulance kit is part of the additional equipment ordered with the helicopters. Both kits will be fully certified for airborne use and will enable the transfer of one patient with up to two medical personnel in the helicopter cabin. Both systems will incorporate basic medical facilities such as electrical power, oxygen supply and suction.