Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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240. To ask the Minister for Health if he will seek a review of the ambulance cover in County Louth on 24 June 2014 when a person (details supplied) died; the number of ambulance crews that were available that day; the reason the closest ambulances to Dundalk were 27 and 29 minutes away; the reason there was a seven minute delay between the 911 call and the request to Louth Fire Service for ambulance assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31736/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Firstly I would like to express my sympathy to the family of the person concerned.

The National Ambulance Service is satisfied that all appropriate procedures were followed with regard to the handling of this tragic incident and that all available resources were deployed. Out of respect for the family concerned, I do not wish to comment further on this matter. With regard to the specific information requested by the Deputy, I have forwarded the question to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to him.

Concerning ambulance capacity in any given area, the Deputy will be aware that there are currently three separate reviews taking place into the provision of pre-hospital emergency care nationally. These reviews will cover all aspects of the service, from governance to the level of resources needed to deliver a safe and effective service now and into the future. I am confident that these reviews will inform the development of a modern, clinically driven system, properly resourced, for appropriate and timely services to the benefit of patients.