At present, my Department recoups Údarás na Gaeltachta for the cost incurred by it in providing an emergency helicopter service to Tory Island, County Donegal. This service is provided in conjunction with the North-Western Health Board on a fortnightly basis during the winter months for the use of the island community and to enable the health board to transport essential personnel to the island. I understand that the health board also transports its personnel to the island by helicopter during the summer months. Aside from this service, there are no regular subsidised helicopter services to other off-shore islands.
Whenever the need for emergency helicopter flights to assist island communities is brought to the attention of my Department, every effort is made to secure through the Department of Defence, the assistance of the Air Corps whenever it is possible to do so. The Deputy will appreciate, however, that on some occasions they are not in a position to do so for operational reasons.