Pat Casey (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response. I wish to put on record my understanding of and appreciation for the work done by the 22 first responder groups in Wicklow. They do an incredible amount of work and are a huge benefit to the health service.

Arklow and Blessington-Baltinglass both lost a half-day service in 2012. Under new rostering arrangements they have lost 136 day hours service. It is disappointing that there is a two-tier ambulance service in County Wicklow. The Minister knows the geography of west Wicklow as well as I do. The cover for that area is provided by ambulances in Tallaght and Naas. However, the service in Tallaght is closed on the same day as that in west Wicklow and the area is, therefore, relying on Naas at those times. If one lives in the centre of the county one might have to wait up to an hour or an hour and a half. In my area of Glendalough an ambulance will sometimes come from Naas even though it is not meant to cover that location. Although efficiency needs to be considered, there needs to be a level playing pitch across the county.

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