Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I thank you, a Chathaoirligh, for the opportunity to raise the important issue of an ambulance base in Tuam, County Galway. As the Minister of State knows, for many years the Bons Secours Sisters ran a hospital in Tuam. Sadly, we no longer have that hospital because the order had to leave Tuam some years ago. I was delighted that the Western Health Board purchased the entire property in Tuam, consisting of the hospital and the surrounding lands. A proposal was submitted to the Department in 2002 for a health campus in Tuam, comprising a community hospital, sheltered housing, an ambulance base and psychiatric services. We have tried to get permission from the Department to design this campus, which will be a welcome addition. The community hospital would be very much in line with the policy in the Hanly report which favours a community hospital where there is a population of 30,000 to 35,000.

It is important to emphasise the ambulance base which is number one on the list recommended by the Western Health Board. The Western Health Board received funding from the Department to buy the property at a cost of €3.8 million. It has also spent €52,000 on legal fees, €46,000 on auctioneers fees, €33,000 on feasibility studies, €1,700 on signage, €7,500 on heating, which is ongoing, and €5,500 on fire, health and safety. Obviously, costs are ongoing and it would be of great benefit if an ambulance base were provided in Tuam to operate in north Galway, south Mayo and, indeed, west Roscommon because, as the Minister of State knows, the Western Health Board covers the three counties of Galway, Mayo and Roscommon. The sooner we get funding for this ambulance base, the better. Developing the ambulance service is very much part of the Hanly report. I spoke to Mr. Bonner and heard him make a presentation to the health board on the importance of the ambulance service if the Hanly report is to be implemented. It is a sore point in north Galway that there is no ambulance base.

I note the increase in use of private ambulances and I find it amazing. Some vehicles from the Westdoc out-of-hours service are being used to bring people to hospital, which is wrong. A proper ambulance funded by the Department and the Western Health Board should be used. I would like funding to be provided for that service which is the number one priority of the Western Health Board for Tuam, County Galway.