Vol. 461 No. 4
217 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Defence the total amount budgeted for inter-hospital transfers by helicopter; the agreement, if any, that exists between the Department of Finance and his Department for such a budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2845/96]
218 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Defence the number of requests for inter-hospital transfers that have been refused over the last three years; the reasons for these refusals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2846/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 217 and 218 together.
An arrangement is in place between the Department of Defence and the Department of Health whereby the Air Corps operates an air ambulance service for the health boards for emergency cases. Established procedures exist for the requisitioning of a helicopter for air ambulance missions by authorised personnel of health boards.
While no individual request for an air ambulance has been refused over the last three years, it has, however, not always been possible to undertake air ambulance missions at the time of request due to adverse weather or other circumstances. In such situations, a mission is usually undertaken at the earliest opportunity unless the requesting authority decides in the interim to transport the patient by road.
There is no set provision within the Defence Vote for air ambulance missions. The costs to the Department in carrying out these missions are met from the appropriate subheads of the Defence Vote under a general sanction from the Department of Finance. The arrangement is accounted for by way of notes in the Appropriation Accounts of the Department of Defence and the Department of Health.
