Claire Kerrane
Ceist:705. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health what steps are being taken to address the ongoing recruitment and retention crisis in the National Ambulance Service. [32767/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 4 July 2023
Ceisteanna (705, 706)
Claire Kerrane
Ceist:706. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health to provide, in tabular form, the number of paramedics qualifying and entering the National Ambulance Service in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023. [32768/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 705 and 706 together.
In line with delivery of the Programme for Government I am committed to providing for both the strategic reform of the National Ambulance Service (NAS) and frontline staff capacity increases in the NAS. In this regard the Deputy may wish to be aware that total NAS staffing as at April 2023 was 2,167 WTEs. This represents a staffing increase of over 28% since December 2015. The NAS continues to actively recruit with a successful student paramedic campaign in 2022 resulting in 188 students enrolled onto the BSc course delivered by the NAS college in conjunction with UCC. A total of 128 Student Paramedics are due to commence training in the NAS College in September and 161 Student Paramedics are expected to graduate in 2023 pending successful completion of their education. Furthermore, rolling recruitment campaigns for Qualified Paramedics, Student Paramedics and Intermediate Care Operatives launched in January 2023. To further support staff retention, the NAS has developed the NAS HR People Plan 2022 – 2025 to enhance employee experience and support their retention within the organisation while meeting expectations of health policy in Ireland. I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly with any further pertinent information it may have on the matter.
Question No. 706 answered with Question No. 705.