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

I wish to correct something I said earlier. The figures I gave on response times related to Echo response times. I want to correct the record in relation to that.

Ambulance staff do a tremendous job in very difficult circumstances and with limited resources. I disagree with Mr. Dunne, who has stated publicly that there are sufficient resources within the system. It is clear from the evidence we have heard today that that is not the case. It is not just me who is saying that. If one looks at the Delta figures, which are the largest cohort of emergency call-outs the National Ambulance Service dealt with last year, one sees that in none of the four ambulance regions in any single month of last year did the service hit the HIQA target of 85% regarding response times for ambulances arriving at the scene of an incident in under 19 minutes. Nowhere in the State was that achieved, yet we are told we have adequate resources in the system.

I have a number of questions. First, why are the first-responder targets note being published? It is also 85% as set down by HIQA whereby first responders are to be at the scene of an incident which is life-threatening in under eight minutes. Will they be published in full? Second, what is the current status of the emergency aero-medical service? It is still at pilot stage. Why is that and when will it be provided on a permanent, 24-hour, seven-day per week basis?

I wish to ask Ms McGuinness a question. In a letter to me dated 16 December 2013, she stated that there are three ambulance black spots in the country, which happen to be in the west in Mulranny in Mayo, Tuam in Galway and Loughglynn in County Roscommon. Why are no additional resources allocated in 2014 to meet needs in those locations? My final question relates to the fact that the HSE and the ambulance service seem to be defending their performance in 2013 on the basis of increased demand, which I am sure existed. However, accident and emergency presentations are down nationally by 3%. If one looks at the figures for the west, north west, Louth, Meath and Limerick, one sees that demand is down significantly in those regions. However, we are still failing to meet basic standards. In the west, one out of two patient transport vehicles is still not arriving within 19 minutes.