Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for giving me the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, to address this issue and the concerns they have raised.

Dublin Fire Brigade provides emergency ambulance services in Dublin city and county by arrangement between Dublin City Council and the HSE. The National Ambulance Service provides non-emergency patient transfers in the greater Dublin area and also some emergency capacity in this area. I understand that in the last year, in response to increased service pressures, the National Ambulance Service has provided additional emergency capacity in Dublin.

In recent years three comprehensive reviews of ambulance services have been undertaken: the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, review, the capacity review and the review of Dublin ambulance services which was jointly commissioned by the HSE and Dublin City Council. The capacity review which was published last year examined overall ambulance resource levels and distribution against demand and activity. It identified a requirement for additional emergency resources, primarily comprising rapid response vehicles in the eastern region, including Dublin. As I mentioned, the National Ambulance Service has put in place additional emergency resources in Dublin, including rapid response vehicles, to address this capacity deficit.

The 2014 HIQA report on ambulance services highlighted some operational inefficiencies between the National Ambulance Service and Dublin Fire Brigade and recommended a number of measures to improve operations. I am pleased to draw the attention of the House to a follow-up review by HIQA earlier this year which noted that communication, co-operation and co-ordination between the National Ambulance Service and Dublin Fire Brigade had improved significantly since 2014.

A review of Dublin ambulance services was commissioned by Dublin County Council and the HSE some time ago and focused on identifying a service model for the most effective and efficient provision of emergency ambulance services and patient care in the Dublin region. Its primary objectives were to determine the optimal model of ambulance service provision which would ensure patients received the highest standard of emergency response and to determine the most cost effective service which would ensure optimal value for money for the public purse. However, the issue of Dublin ambulance service provision is the subject of a mediation process between Dublin City Council and staff associations. In these circumstances, I am not in a position, nor would it be appropriate, to make any comment on funding arrangements that are in place, or should be in place, between Dublin City Council and the HSE. I can, however, confirm that additional funding will be made available for the continued development of pre-hospital emergency care services in 2018. The allocation of the additional funding by the HSE for specific service developments throughout the country must await the finalisation of the national service plan. This process is under way.

I note that the National Ambulance Service recently won an ESAI sustainable energy award for the energy efficiency of its new vehicles. The vehicles include features such as solar panels and other energy saving mechanisms. I am advised that five of the new vehicles have been assigned to Dublin Fire Brigade.

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