Vol. 512 No. 7
155 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Health and Children the involvement of his Department in the setting up of the emergency response unit, Camp West, Castlebar, County Mayo; the financial contribution made by his Department or by the Western Health Board to this venture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27196/99]
The provision of ambulance services in this instance is the statutory responsibility of the Western Health Board. The board decided that the development of centralised command and control arrangements could best be achieved in the context of the Camp West project which also provides mobilisation services for fire services in the western region. To enable the board to proceed with the Camp West development I have provided a capital grant of £230,000 in 1998 and a further capital grant of £267,000 this year.
I allocated an additional £1.62 million to the Western Health Board for the development of its ambulance service in 2000 which brings to approximately £4.51 million the total funding made available to the board for this purpose. Provision has been made in this allocation for the share of revenue costs of the Camp West centre by the Western Health Board, which is estimated at £316,000. The board has also been pursuing a range of improvements to the ambulance service, including improved training, upgrading of the ambulance fleet and the development of ambulance bases. I am committed to furthering the process of development in the ambulance service to ensure the full implementation of the recommendations of the report of the review group to ensure the provision of a modern ambulance service.
156 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will give a breakdown of the expenditure of £2.9 million allocated to the Western Health Board for the improvement of the ambulance service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27197/99]
The provision of ambulance services in this instance is the responsibility of the Western Health Board. I have asked the chief executive officer of the board to investigate the position in relation to this case and to reply to the Deputy directly.
157 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Health and Children the programme details, courses and meetings to be arranged by the Western Health Board for the year 2000 for the proper training to EMT level and other requirements of all staff at the ambulance base in Castlebar, County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27198/99]
The provision of ambulance services in this instance is the responsibility of the Western Health Board. I have asked the chief executive officer of the board to investigate the position in relation to this case and to reply to the Deputy directly.
158 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Health and Children the policy operated by his Department in relation to the replacement of ambulances; if age, mileage and condition are taken into account; the tender system operated by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27199/99]
The provision of ambulance services is the statutory responsibility of the individual health boards and it is a matter for the boards to adopt fleet management policies consistent with operational requirements. Health boards are also responsible for the procurement of ambulance vehicles.
On the recommendation of the National Ambulance Advisory Council, health boards were requested to adopt a fleet management policy for emergency ambulance vehicles. In this regard, the age profile of the ambulance fleet has improved greatly and I am pleased to say that at the end of 1998, 72% of emergency ambulance vehicles were less than five years old compared to 48% in 1994.
The funding that I am providing in 2000 for the ambulance service brings to more than £33 million the total resources provided since the report of the review group was published and will permit further improvements to take place. I will continue to provide additional resources for the development of the ambulance service in line with national policy in this regard.
