Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 92: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when the paramedic grade in the ambulance service will be rolled out nationally to provide this essential service; her views on whether sufficient persons are qualified to operate this system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11486/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The national ambulance training school, which operates under the auspices of the Health Service Executive, provides training for advanced paramedic candidates in conjunction with University College Dublin. The school graduated 29 advanced paramedics in 2005 and proposes to train a further 48 in the current year. The deployment and utilisation of the advanced paramedics is being overseen by the HSE, in conjunction with the pre-hospital emergency care council, which is responsible for the development of standards in pre-hospital emergency care. Accordingly, the Department of Health and Children has asked the parliamentary affairs division of the HSE to arrange for this matter to be investigated and a reply to be issued directly to the Deputy.