Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Ambulance and paramedic staffing levels in south Tipperary are posing difficulties. There are eight vacancies in south Tipperary’s paramedic service. Two of those are temporary posts, but the remaining are long-term positions. This is causing the remaining staff considerable trauma and stress. I salute the ambulance service in south Tipperary and elsewhere in the country. I also salute the first responders in my village of An Caisleán Nua for the way they assist the National Ambulance Service.

This situation is complicated because of the 45 km rule for paramedics even though they are going to bigger areas. No recruitment is taking place in south Tipperary, so we are not getting any replacements. We need replacements desperately. The ambulance bases in the towns of Clonmel, Cashel and Tipperary serve the whole of south Tipperary and parts of west Waterford. Will the Taoiseach give a commitment that the ambulance service in Tipperary will be brought up to its full staff complement?

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