Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 1 May 2001

Vol. 535 No. 1

Written Answers - Ambulance Service.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

357 Mrs. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will give a commitment to the provision of a 24 hour ambulance service in Killarney, County Kerry, following his commitment in October 2000 to end on call in the ambulance service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12169/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

Responsibility for the provision of ambulance services in the southern region, which includes Killarney, rests with the Southern Health Board.

Government policy on the development of emergency medical services in Ireland is as set out in a number of policy documents, most notably the report of the review group on the ambulance service, which was published in 1993 and Building Healthier Hearts, the Government's cardiovascular health strategy.

The report of the review group, addressed, inter alia, the issue of the level of cover currently being provided by ambulance crews and made recommendations on how improvements might be made. Significant progress has been made by the Southern Health Board on the implementation of the recommendations of the report of the review group. This progress has been facilitated by special development funding from my Department to the board of in excess of £3 million in recent years. Much of this investment funding has been directed by the board towards improvements, on a phased basis, in the level of duty hours cover in all of the board's ambulance stations. The board's service plans continue to address the issue of increasing the level of in-station duty hours cover with a subsequent reduction of on-call hours cover.

The board's five year development plan for its ambulance service, 1997-2002, identifies the need to improve the level of emergency ambulance cover in a number of areas.

In 2000, the board embarked on a phased plan to further extend the on-duty cover in the 16 stations outside of Cork and Tralee area and Killarney was prioritised for this development to take place this year with the addition of an ambulance and an extra crew. The additional resources to effect this improvement on the service in Killarney will enable the board to extend the level of in-station duty cover to 1 a.m. each day. The other stations identified are Mallow and Midleton.

Negotiations are at an advanced stage between the board and the staff side to agree the early implementation of the new roster in Killarney. Ongoing discussions are taking place with the staff members in Killarney with a view to implementing the necessary improvements to the service there and in addressing the concerns of the staff with the issue of reducing the level of on-call cover and ensuring that a period of on-call duty at night is not followed by duty the next day.

The board is fully satisfied that the new rostering arrangements currently being discussed will ensure the service in the Killarney area will be improved in the most effective way, directing the additional resources to where they are most needed, to serve the community of Killarney.

I am committed to the further development of this vital service in the context of the recommendations of the 1993 report, the implementation of the cardiovascular health strategy and in response to the priorities identified by the health boards. I will, therefore, continue to provide additional resources for the continuing development of the emergency services nationally to ensure that those calling on the service continue to receive timely and appropriate care.