Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 27: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to licence or regulate the private ambulance services in the interest of prioritising and ensuring patient safety; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20606/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The use of private ambulance services has traditionally been a component of how public ambulance services are provided, by augmenting the service mainly at patient transport level. This arrangement ensures that the resources of the Health Service Executive can be applied more appropriately to respond to emergency and urgent calls.

The HSE has put in place a national contract to replace the arrangements that existed in the regions prior to the establishment of the HSE. The contract is in line with the requirements of the EU procurement Directives. The use of private ambulance services constitutes a very small part of the total workload of the HSE ambulance service. The HSE, in sourcing private ambulance providers, requires compliance with the clinical and technical standards set by the Pre Hospital Emergency Care Council, the statutory body having responsibility for registration, education and training and standards within the field of pre-hospital emergency care - public, private and voluntary. There is no licensing system for private ambulance services under the Health Acts.