Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the HSE representatives for coming here today. With an 8% increase in the population, the closure of accident and emergency units and the distances between hospitals are creating difficulties. In addition, the response time set down by HIQA for Echo and Delta calls is seven minutes and 59 seconds for cases classified as serious or life-threatening, and the task is to achieve that response time at an 85% rate. In 2013, the national ambulance service received an extra allocation of €8 million, as well as an additional allocation this year of €3.6 million, but is that enough? We are talking about people's lives and the ambulance service is so important in this regard. Is the ambulance service getting enough in the budget to counteract current problems?

I have been asked to pose some questions on behalf of my local health committee in Drogheda. How are ambulances and crews allocated divisionally? How long does it take a 999 call, once received, to get a patient in Drogheda to hospital by ambulance? How does this compare with the rest of the country? How many calls for the Drogheda area are handled by Drogheda or by units from other ambulance stations in the region?

Ambulances are being used to transfer patients to regional hospitals, including some in Dublin, for procedures. What impact is this having on the availability of ambulances in the Drogheda area for emergency call outs?