Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for Defence the protocol involved for the deployment of Air Corps air ambulance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32705/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Health is responsible for policy formation in respect of pre-hospital emergency care, and the Health Service Executive, (HSE) has statutory responsibility for the provision of ambulance services throughout the State. The role of the Air Corps as set out in the White Paper on Defence is to provide a range of military and non-military services in support of the State. These services include the provision of an air ambulance service on the basis of agreed arrangements with the Department of Health.

A Service Level Agreement between my Department and the Department of Health has been in place since 2005 which formalises the arrangements for the provision of an air ambulance service by the Air Corps. Under the terms of the Service Level Agreement, the Air Corps provide aircraft and flying crews. The provision of the Service is dependent on the availability of a suitable aircraft, the availability of flying crews, and the suitability of weather conditions. The Agreement details the range of services provided by the Air Corps, specifically emergency inter-hospital 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 UK, air transport of Organ Retrieval Teams within Ireland and air transport of patients from offshore islands to mainland hospitals where the Irish Coast Guard service is not available. My Department is currently finalising a revised Service Level Agreement for the provision of this Service.