Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 July 2013
269. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health if he will update Dáil Éireann on the proposal to establish co-operation between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in the provision of an air ambulance service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32790/13]
View answerIn 2011, a number of approaches were made to my department to establish, at state cost or with state assistance, a helicopter ambulance service in the west of Ireland. Given the lack of emergency aeromedical support (EAS) data in an Irish context and the funding implications, it was decided to run a pilot project using existing state resources. The purpose was to determine the level and type, if any, of dedicated EAS service needed, particularly in light of the requirements of HSE clinical care programmes such as Acute Coronary Syndrome and Stroke. The review of the pilot EAS service has been completed and is being examined. Both immediate and longer term issues will be considered in the course of this examination, including, as I have stated on a number of occasions, the possibility of an an all-Ireland service.
