asked the Minister for Local Government if, having regard to the increasing disturbance of people's sleep at night by the incessant sounding of some ambulance sirens, he will have steps taken, including the making of regulations, to limit the use of such sirens at night to occasions when it is necessary for the purpose of avoiding a collision or expediting the passage of an ambulance on an urgent mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Ambulance Sirens.
43.
While there is no restriction on the use of sirens by ambulances, the Department of Health have from time to time impressed on health authorities the necessity for ensuring that at night-time ambulance sirens should be used only for the purpose of expediting the passage of an ambulance on an urgent mission.
Would the Minister endeavour to ensure that the Department's advice to health authorities is in turn passed on to independent ambulance contractors so that the practice in Dublin of sounding ambulance sirens at night on mile-long straight roads, with no turns off them, will cease, so that the inhabitants of this city can get reasonable rest without this unnecessary siren blowing?
I shall see that is done but I do not think it would be advisable to place restrictions on the use of these sirens.
Unnecessary use. The sirens should not be restricted but it is unnecessary to sound sirens on empty straight roads on which there is no traffic.
I have no reason to believe this is being done.
That is being done and the Minister must be very remote from built-up areas if he does not know what is happening.