asked the Minister for Health the progress, if any, made towards providing a unified ambulance service for the country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ambulance Service.
20.
I assume that, by a unified ambulance service, the Deputy has in mind a national ambulance service under central control. At present each health board has responsibility for ambulance services for people in its area and I think this is a better arrangement than having all the ambulances under one centralised control. However, I accept that there must be co-ordination and inter-communication between the different health boards. These are responsibilities of my Department. The Department issues specifications for ambulances, organises training courses, arranges with the Department of Posts and Telegraphs to provide radio-telephone communication systems and is generally involved in planning mutual services between health board areas.
Is the Minister satisfied with the progress being made to date in the installation of radio-telephones in ambulances?
It is not perfect.
We all realise it is not perfect, but I was asking the Minister if he was satisfied with the progress made to date with the installation of the radio-telephone equipment in ambulances.
I am satisfied with the progress made to date but more needs to be done.
Is the Minister aware that in the Eastern Health Board we are awaiting money for Wicklow hospital. We have the radioequipment in our ambulances but we do not have the money from the Department——
That is a separate question.
It is quite relevant.
I have no detailed information about Wicklow here.