Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I extend my congratulations to the people who run the National Famine Museum at Strokestown Park House. They have just been given a Traveller's Choice award by Tripadvisor, which is the world's largest travel guidance platform. When we consider that the top 10% of attractions globally receive these awards based on reviews from the previous year, this represents a huge recognition for the museum. It will make it a more important attraction. I suggested previously that the Cathaoirleach should visit. Perhaps he will take me up on that in the autumn. The museum commemorates such an important part of our history.

The second issue I raise is not as pleasant as the first. A difficult situation recently arose concerning the ambulance service in County Roscommon. The people providing the service do incredible work. I am not laying any blame for this problem at their door. They are under pressure. On 6 June, an elderly woman in her 80s fell in her garden. The first call for an ambulance was made at 5.30 p.m. When nothing happened, a second call was made at 5.56 p.m. Again, nothing happened. The next call was made at 6.53 p.m. When nothing happened again, another call was made at 7.26 p.m., followed by a fifth call at 8.02 p.m. When the woman got through to the service, she was told there was no ambulance available. In addition to the five telephone calls she made, the woman's daughter, who does not live locally, made two calls. That made a total of seven calls. From 5.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m., which was three hours, the woman lay in her garden without medical attention. It is absolutely shocking. Ironically, her home is only five minutes away from Roscommon University Hospital. I acknowledge the hospital cannot take cases like this. The issue is that there was no ambulance available. I reiterate that this was not the fault of the ambulance service staff. However, it is not good enough. There are excellent fire services in our counties. The Civil Defence has an ambulance. It is really important to have linkages between the services to ensure, in a situation like this, that there is someone to go out and look after people. The woman is still recovering in hospital.