James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 229: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding ambulances (details supplied); if this is an efficient use of resources and professional manpower; the specific plans she has to address this problem in view of the fact that the professional personnel are concerned that if this practice continues it will lead to loss of life; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10861/09]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 230: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason the Health Service Executive has not paid Dublin City Council for the new full-time Dublin fire brigade ambulance service which was put into the full-time fire station in Swords in January 2007; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that this ambulance handles in excess of 5,000 calls over and above the HSE ambulance which also services the Swords area and that the Dublin city manager is considering withdrawing this service because it has not been paid for as agreed with the HSE; if she will make a statement on the threat to ambulance services in Swords and ensure that this vital service is not withdrawn for the town of Swords. [10862/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 229 and 230 together.

The ambulance issues which arose on 5th March are service matters and have been referred to the HSE for direct reply. For many years Dublin City Council, through Dublin Fire Brigade, has provided the emergency ambulance service in Dublin City on behalf of the statutory health authorities. The relevant authority since 2005 is the Health Service Executive. The HSE provides mainly the non-emergency patient transport in the Dublin area.

I am committed to ensuring that ambulance services throughout the country are both safe and effective. For this reason, work is at present being undertaken by the health and local government sectors to consider the best long-term approach to the provision of emergency ambulance services in Dublin. This includes examination of the potential for improved efficiency in the delivery of these services, to ensure that the best value for money is obtained. The current position in regard to the provision of an ambulance service in Swords will be considered in this context.