Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I should have declared an interest when I first stood up. One of my sons-in-law works in the fire service in another part of the country. I know from listening to him and from news reports that there is often a need for both services to attend, depending on the circumstances. In a major accident, it might be necessary to use equipment that paramedics in an ambulance service would not necessarily have.

In respect of ambulance time response, be it the DFB or the NAS, I often wonder whether we are setting the bar too high, because there can be circumstances in which ambulances cannot possibly meet the timeframe set for them. I know that to someone waiting for an ambulance, including someone in a support role, the time taken for the ambulance to arrive can often seem to be an awful lot longer than it is. We would all like ambulances and the services we require to be there instantly, but that is not always possible.

There is a positive outcome to the ongoing discussions within the forum in Dublin City Council. I believe the need for both services cannot be underestimated, but it is important that these services comply in respect of the safety concerns highlighted by HIQA. I am not sure whether anyone who has ever waited for an ambulance or any of the emergency services worries about which one of them gets there first, provided someone does get there and those who get there have the competence and training to deliver what the patient needs. I thank the Deputy for raising the issue.

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