Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of advanced paramedics working in the Health Service Executive in an operational capacity to administer drugs such as cardiac medication; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35552/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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As part of the reform of the health service a National Ambulance Office has been established within the Health Service Executive (HSE). It has responsibility for the provision of pre-hospital emergency care nationally.

The most significant development in the sector for many years is the roll-out of the Advanced Paramedic Training Programme. The introduction of the programme required two legislative changes which were completed in August 2005. 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.

The HSE has advised my Department that there are currently 26 Advanced Paramedics working in an operational capacity throughout the Ambulance Service. It anticipates that a further 18 Advanced Paramedics will be working before the end of this year. There are currently an additional 46 students in training and it is expected that the students who successfully complete the training programme will go operational in 2007.

A Group Authority Licence was required for the administration of three controlled drugs — morphine, lorazepam and diazepam — by Advanced Paramedics. This Licence was issued by the Irish Medicines Board on 5 May 2006. Completion of the training programme allows ambulance personnel to administer an additional 19 medications. This includes, for example, cardiac medications, which they could not administer previously.

The Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) is currently undertaking a spatial analysis study which will guide the HSE in determining the optimum number and deployment of Advanced Paramedics required and advise in their deployment.