Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 431: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when the paramedic grade in the ambulance service will be rolled out to the Health Service Executive western area; her views on whether sufficient persons are qualified to operate this system (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2148/06]

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 432: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when the paramedic grade in the ambulance service will be rolled out nationally; her views on whether sufficient persons are qualified to operate this system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2149/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 431 and 432 together.

The funding required to facilitate the development and roll-out of the advanced paramedic training programme has been provided in line with proposals set out by the Health Service Executive and pre-hospital emergency care council.

The national ambulance training school, NATS, which operates under the auspices of the HSE in conjunction with University College Dublin, is providing training for advanced paramedic candidates on behalf of the pre-hospital emergency care council. Each course at present comprises 16 students. The NATS trained 36 advanced paramedics in 2005 and proposes to train a further 48 in the current year.

The deployment and utilisation of the advanced paramedics are overseen by the National Hospitals Office within the HSE in conjunction with the pre-hospital emergency care council as the body responsible for the development of standards in pre-hospital emergency care. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to co-ordinate a reply for issue directly to the Deputy.