Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

The Minister's denial of the problem is frightening and runs counter to the direct experience of citizens and the facts unearthed by the "Prime Time" programme broadcast last week. The issue I raise predates the "Prime Time" programme and must be viewed in the context of the leaked document on the future of the Dublin ambulance service as well as rumours that responsibility for the service is to be removed from the fire brigade. Before any decision is taken on the Dublin ambulance service, an examination of the national ambulance service must be undertaken. Despite response times in Dublin being much better than elsewhere in the country, it is proposed to replace the current model operating in Dublin with the dysfunctional model being operated elsewhere. I support the call made by SIPTU and others to scrap the review being carried out by the Health Service Executive and Dublin City Council and replace it with a full independent national capacity review of the ambulance service. Such a review is critical.

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