James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if, with regard to the recent decision by ambulance staff to vote for industrial action, she is truly committed to the development and expansion of a national ambulance service or if it is her intention to privatise the paramedic sector; if not, the way she plans to develop the national ambulance service and the Dublin Fire Brigade Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9775/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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My commitment to the continuing development and expansion of the ambulance service is clear from the extent of investment made in the service in recent years. Funding has been allocated by the HSE as part of the fleet replacement policy for the purchase of 67 new ambulances in 2006, 65 new ambulances in 2007 and 50 new ambulances this year. These figures represent a combination of additional and replacement ambulances. The HSE has embarked on a major recruitment campaign to strengthen staffing in the next three years. It has no plans to privatise the ambulance service. Private ambulance companies have traditionally been used to supplement the service provided by the HSE in the areas of non-emergency patient transport, inter-hospital transfers and some emergency ambulance calls. The work provided by private companies represents less than 4% of the total budget for ambulance services.

I do not consider that industrial action by ambulance staff is warranted. The HSE met SIPTU last May and later established a sub-group with a view to developing a national framework agreement on the role and function of private ambulance companies. I am advised that the HSE and Dublin City Council are discussing the requirements for developing an integrated ambulance service in Dublin. This is the best way to make progress. I look forward to the outcome of the deliberations.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Dublin Fire Brigade which has just 13 ambulances had 12 ambulances 20 years ago when the population of Dublin was at least one third less than it is now. It has gained just one ambulance to cater for approximately 200,000 additional people. Between 200 and 300 emergency calls are backed up at any given time. On 18 January 2007, 60% of Dublin Fire Brigade's ambulances which cover acute 999 emergencies were tied up at various hospitals. Their trolleys were being used in accident and emergency departments and they could not find a spare trolley to get away. When I asked the Minister a parliamentary question about this matter last year, I suggested spare trolleys be kept in portakabins on the grounds of hospitals in order that ambulance crews could continue their work. I said accident and emergency staff could treat patients on the trolleys on which they were brought to the hospital and ambulance staff could take the spare trolleys and go back on the road where they were needed if lives were to be saved. I did not understand the response I was given, which was that it was not safe to move patients off trolleys.

What are the Minister's specific plans for increasing Dublin Fire Brigade's fleet, something that needed to be done before now? We do not need another long plan. The national industrial secretary of SIPTU, Matt Merrigan, has pointed out that the sub-committee of representatives of union and HSE personnel established last year to discuss the introduction of private services had not reached agreement on the matter before the contracts were awarded on 27 December last. Why did that happen? Can the Minister confirm that the contracts awarded to private ambulance service providers will include transport services in emergency cases? Will they be limited to transport services in non-urgent cases? The Minister indicated that private operators might be involved in urgent cases. What action will she take to address the concerns of ambulance workers?

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Deputy referred to Beaumont Hospital the last time I responded to him on Question Time. As he knows, his comments on that occasion were subsequently contradicted by the hospital. We need to be careful when we are putting facts into the public domain through this forum. I mentioned that an additional 50 new ambulances would be purchased this year. That is a considerable commitment.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Will all the ambulances be operated by Dublin Fire Brigade?

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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No, the figure relates to the country at large. I do not have the breakdown for Dublin and the rest of the country because the Deputy did not request it in his question. I understand private ambulances deal with emergency calls in a small number of instances. As I said, less than 4% of the budget for ambulance services is spent on private services which have a role to play in supplementing the public service in that regard. The percentage of ambulance services provided by the private sector is much larger in many other countries, including the United Kingdom. Emergency services are generally provided by the public ambulance system and that will continue to be the case.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I stand over my statement that on a Sunday morning in May last year, before the general election, a man who collapsed near Rush had to wait 40 minutes for an ambulance. I was told that the delay happened because four ambulances were tied up at Beaumont Hospital. If the Minister cannot answer the question I asked about Dublin Fire Brigade today, will she communicate with me in that regard at some future stage? How many ambulances will be made available to the Dublin Fire Brigade ambulance service which is creaking at the seams in the next few months? Just one additional ambulance has been provided for it in the last 20 years.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I hope the ongoing deliberations between SIPTU which is raising issues in this regard, the HSE and Dublin Fire Brigade will be resolved. That is what I said. I do not have figures for the breakdown of the 50 new ambulances being provided this year but I will make them available to the Deputy when I get them.