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

The review will consider all aspects of ambulance operations provided by the Dublin Fire Brigade in Dublin, including the capacity and capability of ambulance services. This will inform consideration of the optimal and best-value model for provision of emergency medical services in Dublin. It is part of the process of ensuring a clinically driven, nationally co-ordinated system supported by improved technology so that emergency pre-hospital care can continue to be modernised and services can be delivered in an appropriate and timely manner to the benefit of patients.

I am aware that concerns have been raised about this review, with suggestions being made that it should be suspended or cancelled entirely, and that there is no necessity for a review as the Dublin Fire Brigade ambulance service is operating in a fully satisfactory fashion. I want to assure the House that I am fully aware and appreciative of the excellent historical tradition of service provided to the citizens of Dublin by the Dublin Fire Brigade and, in fact, due to my previous life as a GP in north Dublin, I myself can attest to that. This review should not in any way be interpreted as a criticism of that service. We are obliged, however, to ensure that pre-hospital emergency care across the entire country is ready to meet the challenges of the future. This review is being carried out with that in mind, and I look forward to the outcome of the process.

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