Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 1: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the amount of co-operation, activity and engagement as regards health and most especially as regards the helicopter emergency medical service in the context of north south arrangement and on the back of the Good Friday Agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23164/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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North/South co-operation takes place in the health area at three levels viz:

1. North South Ministerial Council (NSMC)

2. Co-operation And Working Together (CAWT)

3. Other co-operation areas

1. NSMC

The five areas in health identified for co-operation are:

—Accident and Emergency Services

—Planning for Major Emergencies

—High Technology

—Cancer Research

—Health Promotion

While the NSMC remains suspended, progress continues to be made in some of these co-operation areas.

2. CAWT

CAWT was established in 1992 and is representative of the health authorities, North and South, along the border area together with a number of the Northern Ireland Trusts. Its aim is to improve the health and social well-being of the approximate one million resident population of the area. In addition to its day to day work which includes needs assessment, service developments, networking, piloting projects and strengthening partnerships, CAWT plays a role in delivering several co-operative ventures initiated by the NSMC Health Sector decisions. CAWT has also been successful in securing funding under the EU Interreg 111A Programme for approximately 35 projects across the health sector at local level.

3. Other Areas

In addition to the above, other areas of co-operation being explored include:

Radiotherapy Services

Child Protection

Suicide Prevention

Public Health Emergency Planning

Specialist Paediatric Services

Medical Registration and Indemnity Issues

All these give rise to current contact at official level and have potential for greater cross border co-operation.

Helicopter Emergency Medical Service

My Department and the Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS), Belfast, commissioned a consultancy study on the costs and benefits associated with the introduction of a dedicated Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) for the island of Ireland. The resulting report was published in April 2004. In considering the report, the DHSSPS advised that its priority at present is the need for further investment to improve the ground ambulance service. On foot of the report, a Service Level Agreement has been entered into with the Department of Defence for the provision of air ambulance services by the Air Corps. 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.