James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

Dublin Fire Brigade which has just 13 ambulances had 12 ambulances 20 years ago when the population of Dublin was at least one third less than it is now. It has gained just one ambulance to cater for approximately 200,000 additional people. Between 200 and 300 emergency calls are backed up at any given time. On 18 January 2007, 60% of Dublin Fire Brigade's ambulances which cover acute 999 emergencies were tied up at various hospitals. Their trolleys were being used in accident and emergency departments and they could not find a spare trolley to get away. When I asked the Minister a parliamentary question about this matter last year, I suggested spare trolleys be kept in portakabins on the grounds of hospitals in order that ambulance crews could continue their work. I said accident and emergency staff could treat patients on the trolleys on which they were brought to the hospital and ambulance staff could take the spare trolleys and go back on the road where they were needed if lives were to be saved. I did not understand the response I was given, which was that it was not safe to move patients off trolleys.

What are the Minister's specific plans for increasing Dublin Fire Brigade's fleet, something that needed to be done before now? We do not need another long plan. The national industrial secretary of SIPTU, Matt Merrigan, has pointed out that the sub-committee of representatives of union and HSE personnel established last year to discuss the introduction of private services had not reached agreement on the matter before the contracts were awarded on 27 December last. Why did that happen? Can the Minister confirm that the contracts awarded to private ambulance service providers will include transport services in emergency cases? Will they be limited to transport services in non-urgent cases? The Minister indicated that private operators might be involved in urgent cases. What action will she take to address the concerns of ambulance workers?

See this speech in context