Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 72: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the level of funding provided, in each of the past five years, for the air ambulance service operating out of Bantry General Hospital in County Cork; if there are plans to further develop this service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19489/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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An air ambulance service is currently provided by the Air Corps on the basis of a Service Level Agreement prepared by the Departments of Defence and Health and Children, in consultation with the Health Service Executive, the Defence Forces and the Air Corps; all of which are signatories to it. This arrangement has operated successfully for a number of years.

The air ambulance service is provided by the Air Corps for the following categories:-

Inter-hospital transfer of patients with spinal or other serious injury or illness,

Neonates requiring immediate medical intervention in Ireland,

Patients requiring specialised emergency treatment in the UK,

Organ retrieval teams within Ireland, and

Paediatric patients requiring immediate medical intervention in Ireland.

In addition, the Irish Coast Guard provides Air Ambulance inter-hospital transfers as part of its mission tasking and also provides for emergency medical evacuation from the islands around Ireland. In situations where the Coast Guard service is not available, the Air Corps will transport patients from offshore islands to mainland hospitals. The particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter and has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.