Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 May 2012
386 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health his views on the proposals to develop a new ambulance base at Ballaghadereen, County Roscommon; when this service will be operational; if this service will be operated from the existing ambulance and staffing allocation to County Roscommon or will it be an additional ambulance and crew; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22975/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Ambulance Service (NAS) has advised me that it is currently examining ways to improve its deployment of emergency resources in the Roscommon area in order to enhance service levels and performance against national standards.
Emergency activity levels in the Roscommon area remain static. Therefore, the NAS will seek to use existing resources more efficiently in order to improve response times to the current level of calls. To this end, the NAS is examining, in consultation with staff representatives, the introduction of tactical deployment from ambulance stations and suitable emergency dispatch points in west Roscommon.
Work is progressing, under the terms of the Croke Park Agreement, on the introduction of the type of new work practices that would allow this service development to proceed. Although no decisions have been made at this stage, Ballaghadereen is one of the locations under consideration in this process.
