Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 311: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the future of the ambulance service in County Dublin; the improvements that have taken place in recent times to ensure that ambulance trolleys are not tied up in hospitals unduly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3601/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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For many years Dublin City Council, through Dublin Fire Brigade, has provided the emergency ambulance service in Dublin City on behalf of the Health Service Executive. The HSE provides mainly the non-emergency patient transport in the Dublin area. Ambulance services in the rest of the country are provided by the HSE.

It is important to ensure that all of our pre-hospital emergency services, including the services provided by the Dublin Fire Brigade, function as part of a high quality, integrated health service. The advice of the Health Information and Quality Authority on pre-hospital care issues will be a significant factor in determining how services should be organised so that they operate efficiently and that clinical governance, patient safety and quality standards are met.

The HSE and Dublin City Council are in discussion regarding a number of practical issues, including the nature and terms on which Dublin Fire Brigade provides emergency ambulance services in Dublin.

As the other issues raised by the Deputy are service matters, I have referred them to the HSE for direct reply.