Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Regional Group for bringing this motion. I heard the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, say last night that Sinn Féin believed front-line staff were failing. We do not believe front-line staff are failing; we believe the Government has failed. The Government has failed paramedics and front-line health workers and it has failed in housing and in protecting inner city communities. The list is endless. The Government has failed to support front-line paramedics to keep up with the demand for emergency services. The failure to provide this much-needed support puts lives at risk.

As per the HSE's own standards, 80% of life-threatening incidents should be responded to by ambulance within 19 minutes. Dublin Fire Brigade responded to only 19% of delta incidents within 19 minutes. These front-line workers, the heroes to those in need of urgent care, are struggling. They are struggling to keep up with the demand for emergency services and they face immense pressure. The Government urgently needs to publish a multi-annual capacity and workforce plan to meet the demands of patients. This will also improve the ability of the National Ambulance Service and Dublin Fire Brigade to save lives. A serious plan is needed with targets and timelines if the ambulance service is to reverse the trend and improve outcomes. The increase in response times is bleak. It shows clearly that the ambulances services are under serious strain and pressure. This is exactly what paramedics have been warning about for years. Ambulance service staff have offered solutions that would make a difference but they are not being listened to. There are not enough crews or ambulances. We need a serious and comprehensive recruitment campaign to address the shortfalls in the ambulance service.

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