Ambulance Service

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2023

Tuesday, 12 December 2023

Questions (837, 838, 839, 840, 841, 842, 843, 844, 845, 846, 847, 848, 849)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

837. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health his Department’s criteria in relation to tenders for ambulance services for HSE hospitals by private contractors (details supplied). [55339/23]

Niamh Smyth

Question:

838. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health who appoints the panel to score the tenders for ambulance services for HSE hospitals (details supplied); and what experience they have. [55340/23]

Niamh Smyth

Question:

839. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if it is his Department’s rule that on a long-term basis private ambulance companies would own or have leased ambulances prior to applying for the contract for the provision of ambulance services for hospitals (details supplied). [55341/23]

Niamh Smyth

Question:

840. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health when it comes to tenders for ambulance services for hospitals if it is his Department’s rule that ambulance companies cannot on winning the contract attempt to secure ambulance services (details supplied). [55342/23]

Niamh Smyth

Question:

841. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health when it comes to tenders for ambulance services for hospitals if it is his Department’s rule that his Department establishes whether or not a company actually has the ambulances or staff to provide the services (details supplied). [55343/23]

Niamh Smyth

Question:

842. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health it comes to tenders for ambulance services for hospitals would it be satisfactory to his Department that a company on winning the contract company only then moves to secure ambulances (details supplied). [55344/23]

Niamh Smyth

Question:

843. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health when it comes to tenders for ambulance services for hospitals if it is his Department’s rule that staff should be Garda vetted prior to the contract being activated and that proof of such vetting should be supplied to the tender process (details supplied). [55345/23]

Niamh Smyth

Question:

844. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health is it Department policy that the companies tendering ambulance services are inspected and receive on-site visits from the HSE prior to the awarding of a contract to seek evidence of the requirements to fulfil the contract (details supplied). [55346/23]

Niamh Smyth

Question:

845. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health is it Department policy that companies tendering ambulance services are inspected and receive on-site visits from the HSE after the awarding of a contract (details supplied). [55347/23]

Niamh Smyth

Question:

846. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health is it Department policy to rescind contracts awarded if the company appointed are incapable of providing the contract; and what process exists and must be engaged in to rescind a contract (details supplied). [55348/23]

Niamh Smyth

Question:

847. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health his views on whether it is acceptable that a company would win a contract for the provision of ambulance services which does not have its own ambulances (details supplied) which only purchases or seeks ambulances after the award of the contract, whose staff are not Garda vetted, that does not have staff to operate the service tendered for at the point of the award, still does not have the ambulances required to operate the services, and is now contracting out the services required to other ambulance companies other than the company that was successful in winning the tender. [55349/23]

Niamh Smyth

Question:

848. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if the scenario in which a company wins a contract for the provision of ambulance services which does not have its own ambulances, which only purchases or seeks ambulances after the award of the contract, whose staff are not Garda vetted, that does not have staff to operate the service tendered for at the point of the award, still does not have the ambulances required to operate the services, and is now contracting out the services required to other ambulance companies other than the company that was successful in winning the tender poses a potential threat to patient safety (details supplied). [55350/23]

Niamh Smyth

Question:

849. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if the scenario in which a company wins a contract for the provision of ambulance services which does not have its own ambulances, which only purchases or seeks ambulances after the award of the contract, whose staff are not Garda vetted, that does not have staff to operate the service tendered for at the point of the award, still does not have the ambulances required to operate the services, and is now contracting out the services required to other ambulance companies other than the company that was successful in winning the tender poses a significant possibility of a civil suit by patients should the company fail to meet patient safety and operational criteria (details supplied). [55351/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 837 to 849, inclusive, together.

It is a matter for individual contracting authorities to ensure that their public procurement function is discharged in line with the standard accounting and procurement rules and procedures. Public procurement practices are subject to audit and scrutiny under the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993, and the Local Government Reform Act 2014. It is the responsibility of each Contracting Authority to ensure they adhere to these rules.

To create a level playing field for all businesses across Europe, EU law sets out minimum harmonised procurement rules. The EU Procurement and Remedies Directives govern the way public authorities purchase goods, works and services. The rules are transposed into Irish law and apply to tenders for public contracts whose monetary value exceeds certain thresholds. For tenders of lower value, national rules apply which must respect the general principles of EU law such as equal treatment, non-discrimination etc.

As this Parliamentary Question relates to the HSE contracting processes, this is an operational issue and is a matter for the HSE. Members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently not in a position to answer PQs due to industrial action. It is hoped that normal services will resume soon. In the meantime, this Department will continue to refer PQs to HSE for their direct reply as soon as possible.

Question No. 838 answered with Question No. 837.

Question No. 839 answered with Question No. 837.

Question No. 840 answered with Question No. 837.

Question No. 841 answered with Question No. 837.

Question No. 842 answered with Question No. 837.