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

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which she has raised on numerous occasions. Since 2016, the National Ambulance Service, including its south-east region, has undergone significant reform and modernisation involving the prioritisation of investment in new service developments, including increased workforce and fleet, and improved technology. Since the end of 2016, National Ambulance Service staffing resources nationally have increased from 1,744 as at December 2016 to 2,037 at the end of May this year, an increase of 293 whole-time equivalents, representing over 16.5% growth in staff over that timeframe. This year, an unprecedented €200 million has been allocated, which includes over €8 million for new service developments. This funding will be invested in building capacity, as well as increasing staffing within the “hear and treat” service in the national emergency operations centre, which advises lower acuity patients of appropriate alternatives to hospital transfer.

As the Deputy knows, Carlow ambulance base is an integral part of the ambulance service and has two emergency ambulances on duty at any one time. The base is supported by National Ambulance Service resources from surrounding ambulance stations, including Baltinglass, Athy, Kilkenny, Portlaoise and Enniscorthy. Dynamic deployment of available resources operates 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 an incident.

The priority of dynamic deployment is patient health and welfare in the context of service delivery, which means resources cannot be confined by county boundaries, barriers or borders. The national ambulance service operates a comprehensive safety management system across all of its premises throughout the south east and continues to work collaboratively with staff, the HSE capital and estates unit and external providers to ensure any concerns or issues that occur are dealt with as quickly as possible.

I am happy to confirm that the Carlow ambulance base is included in the capital plan for 2022. The HSE capital and estates unit has been in discussions with the ambulance service regarding the need for a replacement ambulance base for Carlow. As the Deputy mentioned, the Kelvin Grove site has been identified as a possible suitable site. A design team is engaged for the preparation of a development control plan, which will indicate whether it is feasible for the proposed ambulance base to be included along with two other facilities planned for the site. Once the site appraisal is completed, a capital submission will be prepared.

Given the work entailed and the timeline to move from identification and assessment of a suitable alternative site to the completion of works and building handover, remedial and refurbishment works at the existing station have been carried out to address shortcomings in regard to health and safety requirements. Further improvement works are planned for later this year. All projects being progressed must be compliant with the public spending code. The final decision to proceed with the construction of a project cannot be made until the tender process has been completed and the costings reviewed to ensure the proposal remains affordable and delivers value for money.

The Deputy mentioned the proposed primary care centre for Tullow. I do not have any information on that but I will take her views to the Minister and try to get a reply as quickly as possible.

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