I thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for the opportunity to raise this very important matter on the Adjournment. I would like to outline the situation in regard to the ambulance service from Killarney Community Hospital. The service from the hospital serves Killarney and a huge surrounding area, including Rathmore, Barraduff, Carrow and up to Ballydesmond in County Cork. This service is too restrictive. On three days per week, the full service available is between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. On two days per week, the full service available is between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. On weekends, the full service is only available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Outside these hours, there is an on-call service which is not satisfactory. In fact, it is a disgrace for a town the size of Killarney and the surrounding area.
The staff on the ambulance have been negotiating an improved cover for the past 18 months. They have gone through all the normal channels but, unfortunately, they have not been successful. This is not their fault but that of the Southern Health Board and the Department of Health and Children.
The objective of the ambulance service, according to the Southern Health Board, "is to develop our ambulance service so that our patients receive an efficient service, irrespective of where they are located." Unfortunately, the Minister, who is from the Southern Health Board area, is not here tonight but I am sure the Minister of State, Deputy Hanafin, will deliver the message. Would the Minister agree that the present situation is far removed from the objective outlined by the Southern Health Board? It is unbelievable in this day and age that if somebody becomes very ill during the night or if there is an accident, the ambulance is not immediately available but must wait to call the staff from their homes. They have then to travel to Killarney Community Hospital, which is the ambulance centre, pick up the ambulance and then proceed to the location of the ill person or the accident. The location could be 25 miles away from the Killarney Community Hospital and the journey could take anything up to 20 minutes to 25 minutes. That amount of time, in certain cases, is vital.
The Southern Health Board has admitted that Killarney is one of the busiest stations in its area. Some 18 months ago it stated that it would reduce the on-call service but it literally had to be dragged to this position by both the Labour Court and the unions. Improvements were to have been made by June 2000 but, unfortunately, nothing has been done to date. This is a despicable way to treat the people of Killarney and the surrounding areas and the staff who are doing a tremendous job under very difficult circumstances.
I understand the Minister of State, Deputy Hanafin, will have a prepared speech but I want the answers to two questions. What happened to the funding provided in 2000 for the improvement of emergency cover and the reduction of on-call cover? Money was provided but nothing was done. When will Killarney enter the modern age and be provided with a full 24 hour ambulance service? I am sure everybody in this House is aware that Killarney town and the surrounding area swells with many thousands of visitors during the summer months. I am sure visitors to the most scenic and beautiful town in this country would be appalled if they realised that a town such as ours had such an inadequate service and who would blame them in this day and age.