Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I also thank the witnesses. I want to compliment our fire service staff and our ambulance paramedics. They must be recognised for the work that they do. They have always done a good job but during Covid they have excelled. It is important to recognise.

I am not a member of the committee. I am attending because I feel so strongly about the ambulance paramedics in my area and because I am really worried about this matter. We spoke about the ambulance services there. People in my area have had to wait for hours for an ambulance because one of our own ambulance paramedics could have been sent to Dublin or elsewhere. There could be an ambulance sitting at the base and there is no one there to take it out. I have a great concern in this regard. Has there been any consultation with the staff in order to try and improve the services? I am not happy with the new model. I believe there are many failings. I am wary of emergency centres where you lose the local contact. At the end of the day, it is all about local contact. You cannot beat that in an emergency or to make a plan. The new model is there but I am not happy with it. It is unacceptable to have anyone waiting hours for an ambulance and I have come across that on a good few occasions and I have reported them.

Is there any process to put permanent managers in positions regionally and nationally. So many managers are working in acting or part-time roles in the service. That can affect the running of the services when there is no clear decision on implementation. It could be changes in the roster or local problems. It all boils down to local. Similarly, how many officers are working in acting, part-time or temporary roles in the service, including senior management? Everyone is doing their best but a good system needs consistency. I can only speak about my area and the concerns I hear daily when people come to me. The model is failing.

From speaking to ambulance paramedics, I feel that they are not being listened to. We are all in this together, no question, but for us to make those changes, and we do need changes, that all of us have a role to play. We have to address the issues that I have come across in recent months. I compliment our ambulance paramedics on the great work that they have done but I just do not know about the system at the moment and I ask that it be re-examined.

I am concerned about the shortage of staff. We have been talking about a recruitment plan for 2022. That is a concern. Our ambulance paramedics are at burnout. They are doing such a good job. We are dealing with people's lives and I know that is a priority but it is very difficult to explain to someone that they cannot get an ambulance to them because I have sent it to Dublin and that is unacceptable. I have done a lot of work on this and I have made it a priority. I will continue to work on it and make sure that we look at this.

Maybe someone could come back to me with some answers. I again thank everyone for coming before the committee. I look forward to their answers.