Manus Boyle (Fine Gael)

At the minute, we have cruise ships coming into Killybegs and could have 3,000 to 4,000 people coming in to the town in a day and do not have one ambulance to cover it. If the ambulance in Killybegs leaves, we have no cover. People keep saying to me that the ambulance service needs to double up. When our ambulance rolls in Killybegs, we have no cover. In fairness, the witnesses mentioned Dungloe and Donegal town but they are still half an hour away from Killybegs, an hour and 20 minutes away from Malin Beg - the furthest point away - and an hour away from Fintown.

I cannot just sit here and listen. We are here to try to save people's lives. The HSE needs to look at County Donegal. We are a black spot. It seem that we are forgotten about for everything. The HSE really needs to sit down and look at strengthening the ambulance service on the ground until we get the helicopter service. That is what I ask the HSE to do.

Some 4,000 or 5,000 people are coming into Killybegs from cruise ships on particular days and there were 22 or 23 cruise ships this year. I counted that there was no ambulance cover on ten days in Killybegs as it was away elsewhere. It is just not good enough. I plead with the witnesses to look at Donegal and try to do something for the service. We really need it. We are not asking just for the sake of it. We are on the periphery and have nobody. It is getting to the point that when people ring me I am telling them that they are better putting them in the car and going to the hospital.