Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I, too, thank Sinn Féin for tabling this motion. Until around 2011 or 2012, the ambulances were controlled locally but then a centralised service was brought in by the HSE which operated from counties Dublin and Donegal. There were two centres in total. Since then, the whole thing has gone wrong.

Before I go any further, I want to thank all the ambulance drivers in County Kerry and our paramedics. Anything that is wrong with the ambulance service is not their fault. We have a number of ambulances in County Kerry. Let us consider what happened two weeks ago. The ambulance from Kenmare was deployed and sent to Clonakilty. It took a patient to Cork University Hospital and was sent from there to take someone to the hospital in Dungarvan. It then made a second run from Dungarvan to the hospital in Waterford. It was then delegated to go to Tipperary and finished up around Clonmel. After 13 hours' service, it was told to come back home to Kerry. In all that time, the whole district of Kenmare was left without an ambulance if something had happened. That is what is happening.

The busiest urban centres are benefitting because when the ambulance leaves the Cork hospital after dropping the first patient, the paramedics have to press a button to say they are available for work. They can be sent to Midleton, Carrigtwohill, Kinsale or anywhere. The ambulances that leave Kenmare, Killarney or wherever it may be in County Kerry are gone for the whole time they are up in Cork.

The Dublin centres are benefiting and it is the places in rural Ireland and places far away in Kerry that are left behind. Those people are struggling. That system must be reversed.

I also want to speak today about our air ambulance. We must ensure it is properly funded. In the past four or five days, the air ambulance has been called to County Kerry for crashes and different things. We appreciate it very much.

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