Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In the programme for Government there is much talk of investing in rural Ireland and ensuring it gets fair play and equal access to all services. One of the pertinent matters for most people living in rural Ireland, even in the context of the recent storm, is the ambulance service. This service in many parts of rural Ireland cannot possibly even dream of reaching the target of 19 minutes to get to any incident. Lightfoot Solutions did a report in 2014 and the recommendations were never implemented. One of the key recommendations was to train more paramedics, provide more vehicles and revamp the management structure. When will this be done? When can people living in rural Ireland expect that when they call an ambulance, it will be there if not within 19 minutes then even within 40 minutes? That would be a magnificent for many people living in rural Ireland. Will the Minister ensure this happens?

See this speech in context