Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I was surprised, but delighted, to hear the Minister say there will be increased funding for the national ambulance service. Why has a review of the role of advanced paramedics as part of the national ambulance service in the mid-west been announced? This has been confirmed by the ambulance service. There have been also been meetings about it, including one in Tipperary. I presume that this review will mean there will be more advanced paramedics, given the closure by the Fianna Fáil and Green Party Government of the accident and emergency departments in Nenagh and Ennis. The advanced paramedics were in place to deal with the fact that there is a large geographical area which ambulances will not reach in time. I presume there will be more paramedics as a result of this review, rather than fewer. I know what I am talking about here. My parliamentary assistant would have died were it not for the fact that one of these advanced paramedics reached her in time.

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