Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I also have three brief questions, the first two of which relate to the national performance standards published by HIQA. Is Mr. Bell in a position to explain why the target of under eight minutes for first responders is not published in the annual report? If it is not measured, how do we know whether targets are being achieved? The HIQA target of 85% which relates to the patient transport vehicle arriving within 19 minutes and is published was achieved in north Leinster in June and July last year. It was also achieved in the south in March and November. However, it was not achieved in these areas in every other month of the year. In the west and Dublin the target was never achieved. What can be done to ensure this target is achieved?

The National Ambulance Service has indicated that there are three official accident black spots, all of which are in the west, namely, in Mulranny, County Mayo, Tuam, County Galway and Loughglynn, County Roscommon. Neither additional ambulances nor extra ambulance personnel are being allocated to any of these three locations this year. If such resources were allocated, could they make a significant difference in the context of dealing with the appalling response times in the west?