Vol. 467 No. 4
86 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the current position in relation to having an ambulance based in Buncrana, County Donegal, which is a large commercial and industrial town and is currently without this service. [13240/96]
Limerick East): The provision of an ambulance service in County Donegal is the responsibility of the North-Western Health Board in the first instance. The North-Western Health Board has advised me that a recent detailed review of the board's ambulance service confirmed that the most effective service for the Inishowen area could be provided by the continued operation of one base, in Carndonagh, for the area. The board agreed to appoint an additional head of staff in Carndonagh to improve stand-by cover. The primary response to requests for ambulance service in the Buncrana area will therefore continue to be provided from the Carndonagh base.
The North-Western Health Board is at present involved in making additional arrangements with a local company in Buncrana to cater for the infrequent occasions where ambulances from the Carndonagh base have been deployed. This ambulance will be equipped and the staff trained to the levels as specified in the National Ambulance Standards.
