Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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286. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the Air Corps provides the air ambulance service on a 24-7 basis; and, if not, if there are any plans to do so. [17361/16]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I take it that the Deputy is referring to the emergency inter-hospital air ambulance service. The Air Corps currently plays a significant role in support of the HSE through the provision of this service and it is underpinned by a service level agreement between the Department of Defence and the Department of Health which formalised arrangements for the provision of the inter-hospital air ambulance service by the Air Corps. The Service Level Agreement sets out the range of services to be 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.

Air Corps aircraft are equipped to carry out the inter-hospital air ambulance function between approved landing sites and have the capability of operating 24/7.