Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I would be delighted to join the Deputy in Youghal and very happy to look at the site. The ambulance service is working with HSE estates to identify an interim solution for 2025 because we want this up and running. That is good news because it means the HSE can begin hiring the staff. We have a preferred site, St. Raphael's, and there is a final process and work that goes on; however, critically, the ambulance service wants to move with an interim solution right away.

In the budget this week, I allocated an additional €16 million in full-year funding to the National Ambulance Service. I spoke to the head of the service, Robert Morton, about this and noted the service is very happy with the level of investment. It means more paramedics, including more advanced paramedics, more student places and quicker response times.

I acknowledge that the ambulance service is exceeding its own targets. We have had many debates in this House in which it was said the service was getting better and better and closer and closer to its targets. It is now exceeding its response-time targets. It is not all perfect because there are cases in which people do not get an ambulance quickly enough, but I credit the service on getting better and better and more and more responsive. The new training college in Youghal, County Cork, will make a big difference.

See this speech in context