Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 384: To ask the Minister for Defence his plans to expand the medical support role of the Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2312/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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1A 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.

This Agreement was last revised in October, 2011 and details the support 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 and the Air Corps have been contacted by the Department of Health and the HSE in relation to the possibility that additional aeromedical support for the HSE's National Ambulance Service, specifically in the west of Ireland, might be provided by the Air Corps. The details of this enquiry are currently being examined.