Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

In seeking to discuss the issue of the Offaly ambulance service, I want to focus particularly on Edenderry ambulance service, where the situation is causing grave concern and worry among staff and residents in the general locality and region. Currently the staffing of the service comprises five full-time staff with five other staff available to cover at any time. Up to November last year over a period of almost two years, the service carried out 650 call-outs covering an area of north Offaly, parts of Kildare and Meath. It is particularly important to have this service and we want to have a quality service there given its rural nature.

The ambulance bay was sought after a long number of years. Following numerous representations and lobbying, the bay was put in place about two years ago. Accommodation was provided in what used to be the matron's living quarters in Ofalia House, a community nursing unit in Edenderry, on the future of which we also seek clarification, considering the publication of the HSE Dublin-north Leinster region report this week, which refers to a €20 million cut across the regional community nursing care service. The HSE had given a commitment in regard to facilities in Tullamore, Edenderry and Birr and I hope there will be consistency in that respect in the coming year despite the talk of cutbacks.

In regard to this issue, the facilities consist of one room, a storage unit and one toilet to be used by male and female ambulance staff. The facilities are not adequate. Another example of their inadequacy is that after a call-out when an ambulance has to be cleaned, it must be transported to Tullamore hospital, which leaves north Offaly and parts of Meath and Kildare without an ambulance service. This means lives are being put at risk whenever an ambulance needs to be cleaned. The temporary accommodation for the ambulance service is totally unacceptable and it does not meet the standards required. Permanent facilities are necessary.

The Minister, the HSE and the local authorities have been investigating the possibilities of co-sharing of facilities over a period of time. In my most recent correspondence with the Minister, to be fair to him, he asked that I consult the HSE and the local authority with a view to examining if a facility at the new fire station, built three years ago, could be an option, and there could be a sharing of facilities in the interests of cost-savings but, unfortunately, having consulted the local authority that can no longer be considered an option. It may have been the ideal location but when that fire station was built three years ago the local authority consulted the HSE and inquired if it had any wish to be part of or to take up an offer to locate a facility there and it was declined. It is now deemed that option is unsuitable for a full-time ambulance service and a part-time fire service.

The onus of responsibility now falls back on the Minister and we want him to maintain this full-time facility but we want him to take action to make sure the facility and service that is offered and provided is adequate, meets the standards required and meets the wishes of the locality and regions of north Offaly, Meath and Kildare. To that extent, I ask the Minister to seek to either extend the area within Ofalia House for the use of the ambulance service or to examine the possibility of leasing a suitable vacant unit, of which there are plenty I am sure in the vicinity of Edenderry town.

I ask the Minister of State to respond to this matter. Having considered the Minister's response and all the parties having explored the potential in his response, unfortunately, the option cannot be progressed and the onus of responsibility now falls on the Minister and Government to put this situation right.

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