Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)

I raise the issue of the National Ambulance Service. I have heard from multiple constituents of prolonged waiting times, sometimes lasting hours, in cases of urgent need for medical attention. In my constituency, Arklow, County Wicklow, and Gorey, County Wexford, each have only one operating ambulance at any one time. This is to serve a population of more than 50,000 people. If these ambulances are out on calls, coverage is requested from as far away as Bray and Waterford. Last night in Gorey alone, the ambulance was called to two incidents. One was in Meath and one was in Maynooth.

This is simply putting people's lives at risk. Incredibly, measures were introduced on 10 February which meant three advanced paramedics in my constituency no longer have off-duty access to specialised vehicles which were an essential part of supporting our ambulance service. Do not get me wrong; our crews, paramedics and advanced paramedics are doing the best they can but the system has failed them. When was the last time a capacity report was undertaken? Is the deployment model fit for purpose? This issue is being replicated throughout Ireland.

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