Pat Moylan (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State. An ambulance service base is needed inEdenderry following a major population increase in north Offaly. Edenderry District Hospital also services north and west Kildare. I thank the Minister of State for the funding that was proved for the aged care unit in the hospital. An ambulance base could be set up at the hospital without significant cost. A good ambulance service is provided in both Tullamore and Birr, which was established recently. I receive complaints about the response time of ambulances when called out to emergencies in Edenderry when roads are busy and so on. That should be addressed immediately. The ambulance service is on call all the time at the Tullamore base but, at high risk times, a service should be provided at a base in Edenderry. I hope the Minister of State will have favourable news.