Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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2535. To ask the Minister for Health the details of any coordination with other states on evacuation flights from Gaza, similar to the coordination with the Slovakian Government in December 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43964/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for her query in relation to the medical evacuation to Ireland of WHO approved paediatric patients from Gaza.

I can advise the Deputy that Ireland continues a strong tradition of providing humanitarian assistance including through the Department of Foreign Affairs, Irish Aid humanitarian and development assistance programme, and the HSE Global Health Programme.

In September 2024, the Government approved Ireland’s participation in an initiative to evacuate up to 30 sick children from Gaza, via Egypt, for treatment and care, accompanied by their carers, following an appeal from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

12 children have since arrived in Ireland to receive medical treatment, accompanied by 33 carers and family members. All are receiving medical attention through the HSE and Children’s Health Ireland (CHI).

The HSE, working in co-ordination with the EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC), requested European assistance to facilitate the transfer of the patients and their families from Egypt to Ireland. Under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, the ResEU system was mobilised.

For the second medical evacuation of paediatric patients from Egypt to Ireland on 5th May 2024, the Norwegian Government provided the HSE and CHI forward team with a specially equipped air ambulance and accompanying medical team to transport the 4 WHO approved paediatric patients and their 14 carers and immediate family members.

The co-ordination of this air ambulance transfer required a significant amount of cooperation before and during the flight operations. This co-ordination was facilitated by the Norwegian and Irish Consulates working in close co-operation in Egypt and the clinical teams from CHI and Norway agreeing a clinical management and handover process for patients before and during the flight.

The Dublin Airport Authority facilitated the landing of the Norwegian air ambulance and the process to transfer the paediatric patients and their family members onto National Ambulance Service vehicles, for onward transport to their accommodation.