Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have been informed that in my town of Cashel the public were without an ambulance service for a number of nights recently. I have been told that this is because ambulance crews were not available, that at one stage the service was covered by a sole practitioner and that ambulance shifts were being dropped on a regular basis around the county. On 17 September, there were no crews in Cashel. On 18 September, there were no crews in Cashel or Tipperary town. For five out of ten nights recently, Cashel did not have any cover. That is scandalous. That clearly contradicts the commitment in the programme for Government to increase the capacity in the national ambulance service and expand community first responder schemes. Is the Taoiseach aware of this happening across the country? Can we get some information on the reason this is the case, how often it is happening in my county and what is being done to address it?

On the same issue, will the Taoiseach make a statement on why ambulance drivers and paramedics have not been allowed join a union of their own choosing?

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