Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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215. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will confirm that the transfer of patients by the coastguard contractor (details supplied) falls outside its contract; if the contractor is charging separately for these transfers; if so, the cost per transfer and or the cost per hour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11428/23]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Coast Guard helicopter services are provided under contract by CHC Ireland. The contract provides for the provision of four helicopters, delivering a 24 hour service out of four bases, at Sligo, Shannon, Waterford and Dublin.

In addition to provision of Maritime and Inland Search and Rescue services, Coast Guard Helicopters also provides a day and night air ambulance service to offshore island communities, as well as HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service), inter-hospital patient transfer services and UK time critical paediatric transfers for the HSE (when other options are not available).

A Service Level Agreement with HSE provides for the recovery of marginal costs from HSE where the total number of HEMS and inter-hospital missions exceeds twelve missions per month, and for all UK transfers.

I consider the support to the island communities and HSE to be a valuable service and a prudent utilisation of the contract that augments the skill set of pilots and paramedic level technical crews.