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

I thank the Deputies for raising this important issue on the provision of an ambulance base at Recess, County Galway. I know how important this issue is to them. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of Minister for Health. As the Deputies are aware, this Government has a consistent track record of investment in the National Ambulance Service, NAS, with significant increases in funding since 2019. Budget 2025 confirmed this Government’s commitment to continued investment in NAS, with an additional allocation of €8 million for new service developments in 2025. This brings the allocation for NAS in 2025 to €285 million, representing an increase of €117 million, or more than 69%, on its 2019 allocation. Increased funding in 2025 will provide for up to 180 additional NAS staff, including paramedics to support the delivery of essential front-line services, facilitate the expansion of alternative care pathways and the continued development of specialist services such as the NAS critical care retrieval service. Current staffing provision in the county stands at 137 whole-time equivalents.

In addition, there are 18 active community first responder, CFR, groups in County Galway. CFRs are volunteers who are trained to attend certain types of emergency calls in the area where they live or work. Galway also benefits from the emergency aeromedical service provided by NAS in conjunction with the Irish Air Corps from its base in Custume Barracks, Athlone. This service conducted 368 missions in 2024.

Galway is also served by a Pathfinder service. Pathfinder is a care pathway that involves NAS and allied health professionals working together to respond and treat older people in their homes as well as providing the appropriate supports and follow-up care in order that the patient does not need to be transported to a busy emergency department to receive care.

The site the Deputies refer to in Recess in Connemara was previously a health centre and is currently derelict. It is the intention of the HSE to refurbish this existing derelict health centre to provide a stand-alone ambulance base. Planning permission has been secured and the design team is finalising the detailed design, including fire and disability access certificates, with a view to having a stage 2C report submitted to the HSE local estates office for review in the coming weeks. Approval will then be sought to proceed to issue tender documents. My Department is working closely with NAS on finalising a new strategic plan that will be formally submitted to the Department in due course.

The Deputies have raised a good number of points. I am a believer in process. I have given an update on the process as it stands but I want to follow up through the Minister for Health about getting the tender and getting it built. That gives the Deputies an update about where it is at this time. I can come back to the Deputies once they have made additional presentations.

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