Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The issue I wish to raise is causing grave concern, indeed panic in a particular community.

The issue I wish to raise is causing grave concern - indeed, panic - in a particular community. Many people are saying that it is a matter of life or death. I refer to the emergency ambulance service and in particular to the service in the Cashel-Tipperary area. Two ambulances currently provide this service and it is planned to remove one of those ambulances. The area in question is exceptionally expansive. Most people have had experience of this ambulance service and they know how necessary it is for prompt action; very often it is a matter of life or death. I can understand where rationalisation is necessary from time to time but sometimes it becomes a statistical issue of just deciding that Cashel-Tipperary will have one emergency ambulance. The people who are saying that this is a life or death situation are not exaggerating. There is panic in that community and I would not like to think, having brought it to the notice of the House, considering the public meetings taking place and the correspondence exchanged, that if there is not a positive responsible response to this we may be asking later how did we allow this to happen. I ask the acting Leader to bring it to the notice of both the HSE and the Minister for Health. The clock is ticking on this issue. I would appreciate an urgent response within the next 24 hours, if possible.