Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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951. To ask the Minister for Defence his plans to expand the role of the Air Corps air ambulance service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35082/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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There are no plans to expand the role of the Air Corps in the provision of Air Ambulance services. In 2005, the Department of Defence and the Department of Health completed a Service Level Agreement (SLA) which formalised arrangements for the provision of an inter hospital air ambulance service by the Air Corps. This SLA was renewed in October, 2011.

In addition to the inter-hospital Agreement, a twelve-month pilot Emergency Aeromedical Support (EAS) service was established last year by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Department of Defence and the Department of Health. The service commenced on 4 June 2012 and it is operated by the Air Corps out of Custume Barracks, Athlone. A full evaluation of the EAS service has been undertaken by an inter-service Audit and Evaluation Group and they have recently submitted a Report to my colleague, the Minister for Health. In order to give the Minister for Health an opportunity to consider the Report and options for future delivery of a service, I have agreed to extend the Air Corps’ participation in the pilot for a period of up to three months.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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952. To ask the Minister for Defence the number of aeromedical call outs by the air ambulance based in Athlone since its inception; the number of patients transported for each category of emergency including STMI patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35083/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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From the commencement of the pilot Emergency Aeromedical Support (EAS) service on 4 June 2012 there were 299 EAS missions completed by the Air Corps up to 30 June 2013. These included cases of segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), trauma, medical, pediatric and other time-critical cases, as tasked by the HSE’s National Aero-Medical Coordination Centre. To date, STEMI and suspected STEMI related missions are estimated to have accounted for some 30% of completed EAS missions. A full evaluation of the pilot EAS service has been undertaken by an inter-service Audit and Evaluation Group and they have recently submitted a Report to my colleague, the Minister for Health. I have agreed to extend the Air Corps’ participation in the initial twelve-month pilot for a further period of up to three months, in order to provide the Minister for Health with an opportunity to consider the Report.