Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
1757. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the outstanding measures in the National Ambulance Service Strategic Plan; the estimated additional funding this requires for full implementation; the basis on which this funding must be made available that is, one-off or recurring; the revenue and capital split of this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35465/21]
View answer1853. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the additional funding allocated in Budget 2021 to the National Ambulance Service; and the areas in which and items it was spent on. [35653/21]
View answer1859. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the additional funding allocated in Budget 2021 to community paramedicine; and the way in which it was spent. [35659/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1757, 1853 and 1859 together.
In Budget 2021 an unprecedented €187.5m is being invested in the National Ambulance Service, including €10m additional funding to progress priority reforms in line with NAS strategic planning. This additional funding has been allocated to:
- Target capacity deficits identified in the NAS emergency service baseline and capacity review;
- Continue the development of alternative patient care pathways, including expansion of the NEOC clinical hub, pathfinder “see and treat” project, and community paramedicine. These pathways manage low acuity calls in an integrated manner in partnership with other healthcare providers, and in the patient’s own home if appropriate;
- Increase capacity within the NAS critical care and retrieval services;
- Progress the implementation of the Trauma System for Ireland, through the continued introduction of standardised protocols for triage and bypass for trauma and orthopaedic patients;
In regard to capital expenditure, based on previous year outturns it is anticipated that approx. €14.5m will be allocated towards the renewal of the NAS fleet in 2021. A further €5.98m investment in NAS building infrastructure works is contractually committed to in 2021.
The HSE is currently developing a new strategic plan to follow Vision 2020, and it is anticipated that funding for this strategy will be sought by the HSE through the estimates process as normal.
Further detail in regard to the funding of specific measures are operational matters for the HSE in the first instance. Members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
