Mr. Maurice Power:

Yes, we have. We are looking at going out to tender. First, we are looking at engaging with the National Ambulance Service in terms of intermediate care vehicles so that we can come to an arrangement with the National Ambulance Service to transport as many patients as possible. Despite that, there will still be a need for further transport requirements, particularly in Letterkenny and Sligo. Our intention is to go out to tender in that regard. My understanding is that there is a department looking at the transport issue across the country. Our intention is to feed into that work. There was a very good model in Donegal involving the rural transport programme and it would be our intention to look at some kind of model relating to it. We are spending in the region of €3 million to €4 million per year on transport, which is a significant cost. We need to move so that we use the National Ambulance Service as well as going out to tender for a new service.