Tom Shehan (Fine Gael)

I tabled this matter in light of the reduction in the ambulance service in the Caherciveen area, which covers most of Kerry South from Killorglin to Castlecove, a distance of some 40 miles. It also covers the extensive area from Valentia up to Dromod-Maistir Gaoithe. Ambulance cover for the area is being reduced to the hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. I cannot understand the reason this is being done. Medical doctors are fearful that this decision has been taken behind closed doors without knowing the facts. The man with the ultimate decision on this in the ambulance service is based in Kilkenny. Why would he not protect the ambulance service in his own area? He has probably never visited the south Kerry area and does not know the topography of the area we are speaking about.

To put this in context, the importance of the golden hour in receiving treatment is often spoken about and the area concerned is an hour's travel time from Kerry General Hospital in Tralee. If one were to become ill in this area and an ambulance were to arrive immediately, it would still take it an hour to get to Kerry General Hospital but if this proposal were to go ahead, it would take an hour for the ambulance to get to the area from Tralee and another hour from it to get back to Kerry General Hospital. It is crazy. The lives of people will be put at risk. I do not believe that the lives of people living in urban areas are any more valuable than those of people living in rural areas. They deserve the same or a similar service to those living in an urban residence. Furthermore, how will the summer influx of holiday-makers to the south Kerry region be covered if there is only one ambulance covering the area from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m? I would like to hear the Minister of State's response to these points.