Limerick East): I am aware of the report which was drawn up by Dr. Harrington concerning accident and emergency services at Cork University Hospital. However, the Deputy will wish to know that the Southern Health Board has issued a statement which confirms that Dr. Harrington had not consulted with the hospital management in compiling this report. I have been advised by the board that this report contains many inaccuracies.
The responsibility for the provision of ambulance services is a matter for each individual health board in the first instance. Health boards operate ambulance services, which provide both scheduled transport for non-ambulant patients and emergency pre-hospital care services. However, priority is always afforded by the ambulance service to emergency calls and on occasions this may result in some delay being encountered by patients awaiting routine transport to hospital.
On the specific question of the need to develop ambulance services, the Deputy will wish to know that, over the past few years, there have been some positive developments in this regard, both at national and regional level.
Since the publication of the Report of the Review Group on the Ambulance Service in 1993, the total extra resources committed to the ambulance service now amounts to £10.9 million. These funds have enabled health boards to make very significant progress towards the implementation of the review group's recommendations. I am committed to maintaining progress towards the implementation of all outstanding recommendations over the coming years.
