Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, I thank Deputy Kerrane for the opportunity to update the House on the delivery of pre-hospital emergency care in County Roscommon and the important emergency response role delivered by our National Ambulance Service.

The National Ambulance Service serves the county of Roscommon out of three bases located in Roscommon, Boyle and Loughglinn, which all operate on a 24-7 basis. All three bases are staffed by a highly skilled workforce of pre-hospital emergency care practitioners, including paramedics, advanced paramedics and emergency medical technicians. In addition, the National Ambulance Service operates a fleet of modern emergency ambulances, intermediate care vehicles and rapid response vehicles from these bases. I acknowledge the engagement by the Deputy on the establishment of the national ambulance base in Loughglinn.

Ambulance resources in the Roscommon region are deployed by the National Ambulance Service dynamically in line with international best practice. This means the National Ambulance Service prioritises resource allocation to the highest acuity calls that require an immediate emergency response, in direct response to patient needs.

On the specific issue raised by Deputy Kerrane, I am informed that the National Ambulance Service currently operates two rosters at its Roscommon base. One is for the operation of a rapid response vehicle and the other for the emergency ambulances. The rapid response vehicle roster has four paramedic posts and, in February 2025, had two vacancies. I understand an offer has been made for one of these posts through the National Ambulance Service national transfer process and that options for the filling of the second post are being examined.

The rapid response vehicle had been delivered in Roscommon through a combination of basic pay and overtime, but I understand that the rapid response vehicle is not currently rostered for daytime services on Thursday, which the Deputy alluded to. However, the National Ambulance Service operation of dynamic deployment means that Roscommon continues to be served by neighbouring National Ambulance Service bases for both emergency ambulance and rapid response vehicles.

As well as front-line urgent and emergency care, the National Ambulance Service is also a vital partner in the development and expansion of a range of clinically appropriate alternative care pathways to improve patient flow and reduce pressure on emergency departments. I particularly welcome two alternative care pathway developments in Roscommon in recent years involving the implementation of medical assessment unit and local injuries unit patient pathways for 112 and 999 patients. This means patients who are deemed clinically appropriate and do not require treatment in a busy hospital ED can be better looked after in an alternative care setting such as a medical assessment unit or a local injuries unit.

Patient demand for national ambulance services continues to rise, with nearly 430,000 urgent and emergency calls received last year, a year-on-year rise in volume of 8%. The further development and expansion of alternative care initiatives are vital, therefore, in transforming the delivery of urgent and emergency care, improving patient access to care and enhancing patient healthcare experiences and outcomes. I know the National Ambulance Service is committed to the continuing development of these alternative pathways.

I extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to the staff of the National Ambulance Service and to the staff of all our ambulance services for their commitment and dedication to patient care, both in County Roscommon and throughout the country.

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