Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

The initiative to recruit 320 new ambulance staff, experienced and inexperienced, trained and untrained, to fill vacancies that have accrued over several years has been put on hold. This jeopardises an essential frontline service and raises queries about staff morale and health and safety.

The ambulance service has taken delivery of 67 new vehicles with another 67 to be provided over the next year or so. These good plans have been brought to an abrupt halt by a unilateral decision to place an embargo on the health service. No measure of efficiency or critical need is being brought into play in this decision. The Minister should review the decision immediately and not just accede to a populist decision to use cuts to make the HSE seem more efficient.

The former East Coast Area Health Board, of which I was chairman, was responsible for the eastern region ambulance service which ran efficiently. The service is about to be nationalised but these cutbacks will damage staff morale and jeopardise the health and safety of the public.

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