Vol. 536 No. 5
82 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress to date in relation to the proposals to establish an ambulance centre at Kingscourt, County Cavan to service areas in counties Cavan, Monaghan, Meath and Louth that are distant from existing ambulance centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14776/01]
The provision of ambulance services to the Cavan, Monaghan, Meath and Louth areas is the responsibility of the North-Eastern Health Board, NEHB.
I have made inquiries of the board and I have been informed that it intends to progress the commissioning of an ambulance station at Kingscourt within funding of £160 million approved under the National Development Plan. While activity levels in the area are not particularly high, the board has recognised that with continuing population growth in the NEHB region, a station in Kingscourt would act as a feeder station to existing stations, as well as improving response times within this area. I understand that negotiations are on-going between the board and the local authority with a view to providing and developing a suitable site for this development.
