Limerick East): I propose to take questions 172 and 196 together.
The report of the Review Group on the Ambulance Service was published in November 1993. The group, in its report, stated that the ambulance service is an emergency service similar to the Garda and fire service. The report of the review group has been accepted by Government and forms the basis of Government policy in relation to the ambulance service.
While the ambulance service acts as an emergency service in respect of its accident and emergency work, approximately half of all ambulance calls are not of an emergency nature but are related to the routine transport of patients. In addition, classification as an emergency service does not suggest that ambulance personnal are being asked to carry out the same duties as either the fire service personnel or indeed the Garda.