Ambulance Service

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 May 2012

Tuesday, 22 May 2012

Ceisteanna (565)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

662 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 386 of 8 May 2012 if he will confirm that the Health Service Executive has selected a site at Ballaghaderreen fire station for the deployment of an ambulance to service West Roscommon and East Mayo; if works have already commenced to facilitate the location of an ambulance in Ballaghaderreen; if he will confirm that this service will be in place by July 2012; if he will further confirm that a service level agreement is being drafted for signature between the ambulance service and the local authority regarding this site; if this will be a 24/7 base for an ambulance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25398/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health (Deputy James Reilly)

The 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, Ballaghaderreen is one of the locations under consideration in this process. Ballaghaderreen Fire Station has been considered as a suitable site and discussions with the Local Authority are at an advanced stage. Until this discussions and industrial relations issues are addressed, no further details can be confirmed at this stage.