Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State and wish her well with delivery of Sláintecare. I welcome this opportunity to say a few words about Sláintecare. As Senator Seery Kearney stated, it is not an issue of money. We have never had more money allocated to our health services. The current allocation of €22 billion is an unbelievable amount of money when one weighs it up. It includes the allocation of an extra €4 billion last year. There is no doubt that there is something wrong in the health service. Money is not the problem. I would love if we could have a hospital that would provide services with respect to which the Minister of State could say this is how a hospital should be run, regardless of how much money or staff it would take, and to know what the capacity and efficiencies could be. It would be the type of hospital we need and would be a benchmark for other hospitals throughout the country.

I wish to concentrate for the remainder of my contribution on the National Ambulance Service. The Minister of State, as well as every Deputy, Senator and other Minister will be well aware of the ambulance service throughout the length and breadth of the country. That service is not working properly either. We have the National Ambulance Service and a private ambulance service. I do not understanding why they cannot work better together locally. We have had farcical situations. For example, an ambulance based in Kerry could be sent to Mayo under the emergency rule put in place by HIQA whereby an ambulance must be on the road to an emergency within 90 seconds of receiving a call. That ambulance might arrive in Galway when an ambulance in Castlebar could become free. Then the ambulance from Kerry is stood down and returns home. On the way, it may be redirected again. That is farcical. Ambulances based in Kerry are probably operating in the west and ambulances based in the west operating in the south. It does not add up. It makes no sense. Everyone in the ambulance service will tell us that it is not working. Those in the private ambulance service will tell us that service is not working either. The Minister of State should consult the senior Minister and something should be put in place.

The unions are involved and they must be consulted on this issue. They are an obstacle to dealing with this. We have heard much about unions every day in both Houses. This is a typical issue where unions can play a part. We can have a more efficient ambulance service. Its role is to deal with emergencies for the benefit and welfare of our people. I ask the Minister of State to make addressing this issue a priority. From my investigations and on the basis of the information provided by the people I have talked to, I believe it can be resolved. We have a two-tier system. We have an emergency ambulance service and intermediate care ambulance service. This matter could be dealt with straight away. I have been advised that the driver of an ambulance need not be a fully qualified paramedic. The unions are an obstacle in that regard. That is why they must be brought on board. There will be problems in getting all of this together. I plead with the unions in this respect, as it is not only in their interests but also in the interests of the public. That message should go out loud and clear to them. I ask the Minister of State to consult the senior Minister and HSE staff in order to resolve this issue. It can be resolved.