Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 473: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will confirm that voluntary providers of ambulance services at public events, such as football matches etc., have a continuing role to play; and if she will ensure that their services are availed of as they traditionally have been. [2393/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The voluntary sector providers have an important role to play in the provision of pre-hospital care. I see this role continuing through the development, for example, of first responder schemes in the community, working in association with the statutory service. As part of the reform of the health service a national ambulance office has been established under the auspices of the national hospitals office within the HSE. The office has responsibility for the provision of pre-hospital emergency care nationally and works in conjunction with the pre-hospital emergency care council, PHECC, as the body with statutory responsibility for the development of standards in pre-hospital emergency care. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to co-ordinate the preparation of a more detailed reply to the Deputy on this matter.