Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our guests from SIPTU. I join Deputy Billy Kelleher and the Chairman in acknowledging that the National Ambulance Service is a pillar of the health service. Lives depend on what it does. I take the opportunity, as I did when the National Ambulance Service Representative Association, NASRA, attended the committee, to pay tribute to the ambulance personnel who are also members of SIPTU.

I thank Mr. Bell for his presentation, in which he raised several points. I have lived all my life four miles from the Border and the comparisons made in the presentation leap off the page. Mr. Bell refers to a staffing level of 1,100 north of the Border. However, he makes the important point that there is a staff ceiling here of 1,670 - currently the figure is 1,615, excluding the Dublin Fire Service. Was this figure arrived at during the recruitment embargo? When was the ceiling set? We understand reconfiguration, greater efficiencies and effectiveness are crucial, but when everything is moved about, one comes to the logical conclusion that under-resourcing is at the core of the difficulties.

In respect of the comparison with the service north of the Border, without even considering the position in Scotland, there is under-resourcing in terms of equipment and personnel. The number of ambulances available is a major concern. I cited a figure for NASRA and Mr. Bell has personal knowledge of the north east, coming, as I understand, from County Louth. Some incredible figures for the level of ambulance cover in the region have been suggested recently. I suggested a figure of 12, but it may be a little higher. I understand there are approximately 30 vehicles, but they are not all in operation at the same time and not all ambulances. Will Mr. Bell throw some light on the complement of vehicles and personnel in the north east?

I arrived a little late for NASRA's presentation, but I join the Chairman and others in welcoming the McQuillan family and the other guests in the Visitors Gallery. I am very conscious of the great hurt and pain people have suffered as a result of the loss of a loved one, but, as I said, under-resourcing puts ambulance personnel in a very difficult position. They must know that the key performance indicator response times are sometimes unachievable because of the distance involved, when ambulances in closer proximity are already being utilised in making various deliveries and other responses. What is the impact on ambulance personnel? Light is rarely shone on the fact that ambulance crews are under enormous physical, emotional and psychological stress because they know that they will not arrive in time and are responding in very difficult circumstances. Do the delegates agree that we need to see significant investment in the ambulance fleet? I distinguish between the ambulance fleet and other vehicles because ambulances are critical and at the core of what is needed. The ceiling needs to be removed. We need adequate personnel to be appointed to the National Ambulance Service.