Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Defence the plans, if any, he has to expand the role of the Air Corps air ambulance service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13149/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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In 2005, the Department of Defence and the Department of Health completed a Service Level Agreement (SLA) which formalised the arrangements for the provision of an inter hospital air ambulance service by the Air Corps. The Agreement outlines the support provided by the Air Corps, specifically in respect of 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 when the Irish Coast Guard service is unavailable.

In addition to the inter-hospital SLA, a twelve-month pilot Emergency Aeromedical Support (EAS) service was established last year by agreement between the Department of Defence and the Department of Health, in support of the Health Service Executive’s National Ambulance Service. The purpose of the pilot is to assess the level and type, if any, of dedicated emergency aeromedical support needed to assist the National Ambulance Service in the west of Ireland for certain types of patient, particularly in light of the requirements of the HSE Clinical Care Programmes, such as Acute Coronary Syndrome and Stroke.

The service commenced on 4 June 2012 and it is operated by the Air Corps out of Custume Barracks, Athlone. The SLA provides that a full evaluation of the EAS service is to be undertaken by the stakeholders three months prior to the end of the pilot and this process is now underway.

There are no plans to expand the role of the Air Corps in the provision of these Air Ambulance services.