Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

We continue to invest at pace. There are an additional 500 NAS staff since 2020, with the total going from approximately 2,000 to 2,500, which is a very considerable increase of 26%. That increase is needed to ensure the distribution of staff and the different ways in which they can try to keep people close to home, particularly older people whom we do not want having to present at acute hospitals. The south-east region currently has 14 ambulance bases, with 277 whole-time equivalent staff, including paramedics, advanced paramedics and advanced emergency medical technicians. We have new development funding in 2025 for two additional 24-7 ambulances. There is the new rapid response vehicle operating from Newcastle, County Wicklow. The south-east region is served also by 50 active community first responder groups, which play an enormous role. Further aeromedical support is provided to the region by the NAS helicopter emergency service and the Irish Coast Guard. These are the different ways in which we are trying to provide support and divert lower-acuity patients.

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