Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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408. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on plans to open two ambulance control centres at Tallaght and Ballyshannon; the staff complement that will be required; the way this will affect staff currently working in the system, including agency staff; the date on which both centres will open and be fully operational; if additional posts will be advertised and the number, grade and timeframe for these; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43215/13]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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409. To ask the Minister for Health the consideration that will be given to the efficiencies of taking on the existing contract staff to operate the new ambulance control centre [43216/13]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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410. To ask the Minister for Health the reassurances he can give the contract staff currently employed as emergency call takers in Townsend Street that their contract will be not be ended in a sudden or unfair way [43217/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 408 to 410, inclusive, together.

The National Ambulance Service (NAS) control centre reconfiguration project is reducing the number of control centres to one national system over two sites, while making a significant investment in new voice, data and mapping technologies. This will allow the NAS to deploy emergency resources more effectively and efficiently, on a regional and national basis rather than within small geographic areas.

The reconfiguration of existing ambulance control centres is consistent with international best practice and endorsed by HIQA as the most appropriate approach to improve the quality of services to patients. The project is also a key element of Future Health: A Strategic Framework for Health Reform in Ireland 2012-2015.

The National Operations Centre will be located in Tallaght and Ballyshannon, for operational redundancy. Full commissioning, with the consolidation of all NAS control centres, should be completed by the end of 2014 and will include the National Aeromedical Coordination Centre, currently in Tullamore.

In relation to the specific queries raised, as these are service matters I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.