Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her response. I welcome the statement that additional resources will be allocated which, as I said, are very much needed.

When I was first alerted to this incident in Monaghan in the first week in January I contacted the HSE. The incident caused great concern to the people of that county. I asked for the reason for the delay. We are now entering February and I have not got a response. I do not expect the Minister of State to have the answer to that question but this issue needs to be addressed. I take cold comfort, with respect, from the contents of the Minister of State's statement. It is an issue that has to be addressed. If someone is in a critical and life-threatening situation and lies waiting 2.5 hours for an ambulance we have a serious problem and unless we address it, fatalities will occur.