Vol. 551 No. 2
295 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Health and Children the operational running costs for the operation of helicopter emergency medical support, as apply in other EU countries, on an annual basis; the extent and category of personnel involved in such operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10090/02]
The information requested by the Deputy is currently not available in my Department. However, the Deputy will be aware that one of the working groups established under the Good Friday Agreement to examine the area of planning for major emergencies – the cross-Border pre-hospital emergency care working group – has proposed the commissioning of an independent feasibility study on the costs and benefits associated with the introduction of a dedicated helicopter emergency medical service covering the island of Ireland. The proposal for the feasibility study was endorsed at the meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council on 16 November 2001.
The advertisement inviting tenders for the feasibility study appeared in national newspapers on 24 January 2002. The closing date for receipt of tenders was 14 February 2002. The tenders are being evaluated at present and the successful tenderer will be appointed shortly. It is anticipated that the study will be completed by June 2002. The terms of reference for the study require the consultants to "summarise and take account of research and evaluations, which have been carried out internationally, into the costs and benefits of a helicopter emergency medical service as against ground ambulances". I would anticipate that in undertaking this element of the study, the consultants would be required to collect the information requested by the Deputy, which therefore would be available in the final study.
