Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 8: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she plans to increase the number of ambulances available to the Dublin Fire Brigade Ambulance Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2672/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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A review of ambulance service provision in Dublin city and county, which was commissioned and jointly chaired by Dublin City Council and the Health Service Executive, was completed in February 2007. The review was not formally progressed during 2007 because we were awaiting the receipt of the judgment of the European Court of Justice in a case against Ireland relating to the arrangements for the supply of emergency ambulance services in the Dublin area by Dublin Fire Brigade. The judgment in that case was published on 18 December last. The HSE and Dublin City Council are in a position to formally consider the recommendations arising from the review.

The HSE gives Dublin Fire Brigade funding to provide an emergency ambulance service for Dublin city and county. The HSE has provided over €9 million for this purpose in 2008. Dublin Fire Brigade operates 12 ambulances for emergency services only, from a number of bases in the city and county. The service operates on a 24-hour, 365-day basis. The HSE operates its own fleet from four Dublin city bases — St. James's Hospital, Loughlinstown, Tallaght and Swords. The service may be supplemented by ambulances from the wider Dublin and mid-Leinster area as required.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I have noted what the Minister has said. As I am a magnanimous sort of person, like the Minister herself, I like to impart information occasionally. I remind the Minister that housing, education and public facilities affect longevity, but we do not have community facilities like those in Sweden.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I do not doubt that the Deputy will one day be on the Government side of the House and therefore in a position to impart such information.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I tabled this question because I am concerned that on 18 January 2007, Dublin Fire Brigade had four ambulances tied up at the Mater Hospital for between two and three hours and three further ambulances tied up at Beaumont Hospital. The seven ambulances in question, which represent over 60% of Dublin Fire Brigade's ambulance service, could not be used because the service could not get its trolleys back.

When I asked the Minister a question about the matter, it was referred to the HSE, which issued a facetious response to me. I asked why Beaumont Hospital and the Mater Hospital do not provide portakabins where spare trolleys can be kept, thereby allowing ambulance personnel to deliver patients into the care of accident and emergency departments, to collect a spare trolley from the portakabin and to get back on the road to save someone else's life on the M50 or wherever. The facetious response I was given was that patients cannot be moved off trolleys, which has nothing to do with what I asked.

The reality, as the Minister said, is that Dublin Fire Brigade has had just 12 ambulances for the last 20 years, even though the population of the greater Dublin area has exploded by 600,000 or 700,000 in that time. Ambulances have to stay outside accident and emergency departments in a manner that seems designed to keep patients out of hospital, although for all the wrong reasons. I would like the Minister to ensure I get a proper response to my question. I ask her to give the House a commitment that she will instruct the HSE to ensure that spare trolleys are kept in portakabins in the manner I propose. Given that ambulances are such scarce resources, and more of them are needed, I ask that those we have at least be used appropriately.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I agree with the Deputy that prosperity influences longevity. Professor Brendan Walsh, by the way, stated in a well-argued paper last week that it was half prosperity and half improved treatments.

I have heard one ambulance driver talk about a particular experience but I am not aware that it is the huge issue the Deputy is making it out to be.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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It is.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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If it is, I will make sure that whoever is responsible in the HSE speaks with the Deputy about this issue.

I have not seen the review referred to by the Deputy as it has not been published because of the litigation in the European Union, but I understand that the 15 recommendations therein are currently being considered by the HSE.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I would be grateful if the Minister could organise that, bearing in mind the 75,000 incidents — 205 incidents a day — which must be dealt with by the Dublin Fire Brigade.