James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am setting out the facts. Some €129 million has been invested in our ambulance services. The service employs approximately 1,550 staff and uses more than 480 vehicles. The volume of calls has increased significantly in recent years. Some 229,703 calls, equating to an average of 19,142 a month, were made in 2012. That figure has increased to 296,730, which equates to a monthly average of almost 27,000 calls. When there is such a volume of calls, sadly there will occasionally be times when the targets cannot be met. It is a very serious situation for those people. The ambulance service is striving to ensure ambulances are available for the most serious calls to deal with those who are most in need. That remains the goal. As the Deputy knows, we have limited resources. We have invested in the ambulance service and we will continue to do so. I congratulate the men and women who work in our ambulance services on the great work they do.

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