Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his response. I would emphasise a number of points in response to him while understanding completely the concerns of the people he represents. In no way did I mean to suggest that my small amount of time spent there is equal to the knowledge the Deputy and other representatives would have regarding the concerns people are articulating. That said, I emphasise some points we discussed earlier.

The first is that due to the change that has taken place, an additional 126 hours will be rostered every week. Due to the changes in work practices to which staff and unions have agreed, more work hours will be available. I again confirm that no ambulance stations will be closed as a result of this change and emphasise that due to this, not only will an extra 126 hours be available, there will be 96 more on-duty emergency hours available per week in the region. Due to the changes to which staff have agreed, on-duty and response times will improve. I have been informed that the reason for that is because emergency ambulances will be available straightaway and where necessary, ambulances from adjacent stations will provide dynamic and direct cover.

I understand very well because I have had to deal with these issues in my own constituency in respect of changes in front-line services. Whenever any change is made in a service that is so sensitive, people are obviously deeply concerned. All I can do is conclude by emphasising that more hours will be made available as a result of these changes which have been brokered and delivered by the staff, unions and management who are involved in the very provision of the service about which the Deputy is so understandably concerned.

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