Vol. 470 No. 3
83 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the steps, if any, he will take to ensure that ambulance drivers are given the same terms and conditions as the other emergency services for emergency work and calls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18931/96]
Limerick East): I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the Deputy's questions on this subject on 26 September 1996.
84 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the total number of ambulance drivers who are currently employed in the country as a whole. [18932/96]
85 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the total number of ambulance drivers, excluding those working in the greater Dublin area. [18933/96]
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 85 together.
The latest information regarding the numbers of ambulance drivers working in the health service derive from a recent survey of the health boards regarding a profile of such personnel. These data relate to actual numbers employed as distinct from whole-time equivalents:
Numbers of Ambulance Drivers Employed at September 1996 in Each Health Board.
|
Health Board |
Provisional |
Dublin |
Total |
|
Eastern |
32 |
36 |
68 |
|
Midland |
30 |
30 |
|
|
Mid-Western |
48 |
48 |
|
|
North-Eastern |
57 |
57 |
|
|
North-Western |
53 |
53 |
|
|
South-Eastern |
89 |
89 |
|
|
Southern |
74 |
74 |
|
|
Western |
41 |
41 |
|
|
Total |
424 |
36 |
460 |
86 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Health whether emergencies arise on non-emergency journeys in the course of an ambulance driver's day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18934/96]
Limerick East): The circumstances in which ambulance personnel carry out emergency and non-emergency work is an operational matter which depends on the circumstances of particular cases. The Deputy will be aware from replies to previous parliamentary questions on this matter that policy in relation to the function of the ambulance service is to maintain the dual role of the service in undertaking both emergency and non-emergency work in order that ambulance personnel can respond flexibly as changing needs arise.
