Peadar Tóibín
Question:626. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the staff and financial resources provided for ambulance services in County Meath for each of the past five years. [25123/13]
View answerTuesday, 28 May 2013
Questions (626)
Written answers
A significant reform programme has been underway in recent years in pre-hospital care services nationally, to ensure a clinically driven, nationally co-ordinated system, supported by improved technology. The HSE Operational Plan 2013 sets out proposals to invest in ambulance services in 2013 including funding of the National Ambulance Service Control Centre Reconfiguration Project, the Aeromedical Service, implementation of Neonatal/Paediatric Retrieval Services and further development of the intermediate care service and adult retrieval services.
In relation to staffing generally, the Government has decided that the numbers employed across the public service must be reduced in order to meet its fiscal and budgetary targets. The Health Sector must make its contribution to that reduction. However, the HSE can make staff appointments once it remains within its overall employment ceiling and has the financial resources to do so. In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy regarding ambulance services in County Meath, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
Question No. 627 answered with Question No. 614.