Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 90: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when the helicopter emergency medical service will be introduced to persons here in view of the continuing loss of life and disabilities due to the lack of same; her personal views as to whether this is a necessity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11484/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Department of Health and Children and the Northern Ireland Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety jointly commissioned a consultancy study on the costs and benefits of the introduction of a dedicated emergency medical services helicopter for the island of Ireland. The study, which was published last year and is available on the Department's website, concluded that the introduction of a dedicated inter-hospital air ambulance service would be appropriate in an all-island context. In considering the report, the Northern Ireland Department advised that its priority is further investment to improve the ambulance service on the ground.

On foot of the report, the Department of Health and Children had detailed discussions with the Department of Defence about the future provision of air ambulance services by the Air Corps. A detailed service level agreement has been prepared and signed arising from the discussions. The signatories to the agreement are the Department of Defence, the Department of Health and Children, the Health Service Executive, the Defence Forces and the Air Corps.

The agreement sets out the range of services to be provided by the Air Corps, specifically inter-hospital transfer for spinal and serious injury and illness, air transport of neonates requiring immediate medical intervention in Ireland, air transport of patients requiring emergency organ transplant in the UK, air transport of organ harvest teams within Ireland and air transport of patients from offshore islands to mainland hospitals when the coastguard service is not available.

A steering group comprising representation of each of the signatories to the service level agreement has been established. The group will monitor the operation of the agreement and will, if necessary, amend the provisions of the agreement to take account of service developments, including the new fleet replacement programme being put in place by the Air Corps.