Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State for her response. However, it raises more questions. I do not wish to be parochial with regard to this issue; I recognise the fact that we must spread across a region. I do recognise that the base in Edenderry represents a region that covers not only north Offaly but also parts of Kildare and Meath. The Minister of State mentioned the potential for doubling up of facilities. As I said in my initial speech, this is something that has been explored to the nth degree in recent times with regard to the new fire station that was built three years ago in Edenderry. Even during the initial phase of the design of that fire service, the HSE was asked by the local authority if it wished to avail of a facility within that complex, but it declined the offer, which left the local authority with no option but to design it to meet its own demands, which was that of a part-time fire service with two bays. That looks after the local authority's requirements. It cannot, unfortunately, provide the necessary accommodation or facilities to suit the ambulance service. Thus, the responsibility falls firmly back on the HSE. It must recognise, as I do and as the locality does, that the facilities and services within the complex in which they now operate are not suitable or practical and cannot meet the standards required. The staff cannot continue to be expected to work in these conditions. Not only is it detrimental to their daily working lives, it also poses a threat to the general population which puts lives at risk. I ask the Minister of State to ask the Minister to attack this issue urgently in order to provide either improved facilities at the present location or a new facility that can be accommodated at very reasonable cost.

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