Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 310: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if there is a fund available to repatriate a person with a serious illness who requires to be transported by air ambulance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43911/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Over the past decade, the number of Irish citizens travelling and living abroad has increased dramatically. Irish residents made almost 8 million visits overseas in 2007. As a result, requests to my Department for consular assistance and support have increased significantly. Every effort is made to assist families who experience difficulties. While the vast majority of visits abroad are trouble free, some result in death or serious illness, unfortunately. Our missions overseas provide a wide range of practical assistance when Irish citizens experience serious illness. This includes the provision of lists of English speaking doctors and appropriate local medical facilities; communicating with medical personnel or hospital authorities; visiting hospitals and transferring funds from family and friends. We also liaise with insurance or medical evacuation companies. My Department, of course, strongly advises intending travellers to take out adequate travel insurance prior to departure. Failure to take out insurance can lead to considerable financial and logistical difficulties for the traveller and his/her family should problems arise. There is no specific fund available for the repatriation of Irish citizens to be transported home by air ambulance. Repatriation by air ambulance is usually organised directly by the family concerned and, where the person concerned is insured, their travel insurance company.