Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of the provision of the ambulance base located at the Carlow health services complex at St. Dympna's Hospital in Carlow town. The National Ambulance Service is the statutory pre-hospital emergency and intermediate care provider. It seeks to serve the needs of patients and the public as part of an integrated health system through the provision of high-quality, safe and patient-centred services. Carlow ambulance base is an integral part of the ambulance service and has four emergency ambulances on duty. The base is supported by the National Ambulance Service's resources from surrounding ambulance stations, including Baltinglass, Athy, Kilkenny, Portlaoise and Enniscorthy. Funding the National Ambulance Service is extremely important and in 2020 there was an increase of €3.5 million, or 2.1%, on the 2019. The capital spend on ambulance base facilities is prioritised by the National Ambulance Service to meet the requirements of the bases with the highest needs.

HSE estates confirmed remedial works to the value of approximately €50,000 were carried out at Carlow ambulance base to address works requirements to make the base fit for purpose. The HSE has confirmed to Department officials that the facilities at Carlow ambulance station are fit for purpose. The HSE advises that a safety audit of Carlow ambulance base was carried out on Monday, 19 October. It confirmed the base is kept in good order and that all health and safety requirements are being met. The ambulance officer in the south region advises that the National Ambulance Service operates a comprehensive safety management system across all its premises across the south and continues to work collaboratively with staff, HSE estates and external providers to ensure any concerns or issues that occur are dealt with as quickly as possible. Dynamic deployment of available resources operate on an area and national basis, rather than a county or geographical boundary basis to ensure optimum resource use as the nearest appropriate resource is mobilised to the location of the incident. The priority of dynamic deployment is patient health and welfare in the context of service delivery which means that resources cannot be confined by county boundaries, barriers or borders.

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