Maura Hopkins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will make three very short points. In 2017, €1 million in additional resources have been made available. Surely, those resources should be directed towards identified, evidence-based black spots. The Minister of State referred to the Loughglynn ambulance base. To be honest, the response is not at all satisfactory. The Minister of State said this facilitates better utilisation of resources. This is otherwise known as a "borrowed ambulance", which moves between Roscommon town and Loughglynn. It is not acceptable. We need additional resources. While the Garda station was acquired for refurbishment, a refurbished Garda station does not deliver an ambulance service. We need ambulances and personnel.

The Minister of State said discussions on the air ambulance service were ongoing. I am looking for specifics. Has the feasibility study started? When will it finish? We need to see the air ambulance service, which has been hugely positive and beneficial in getting critically ill patients to the centres they need to be in, operating at night. Can the three specific questions be answered, perhaps outside of this Commencement debate?