Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

204. To ask the Minister for Health the grounds for transferring Dublin City Fire Brigade ambulance services to the Health Service Executive, in view of the excellent record established by the service through the Dublin fire services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10894/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In a report published last December, HIQA identified serious patient safety concerns over the lack of coordination between Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) and the National Ambulance Service (NAS). Following discussions, the HSE and Dublin City Council have agreed in principle to address the identified weaknesses, through the provision of a single point of contact for all emergency calls in Dublin. Under this agreement, all 999/112 ambulance calls for the Dublin region will be routed through the National Emergency Operations Centre in Tallaght, and all ambulances, whether DFB or NAS, will be dispatched from Tallaght. In addition, clinical governance of Dublin ambulance services will become the responsibility of the NAS Medical Director. The new arrangements will mean that the people of Dublin will get an improved ambulance service.

Staff in DFB will, of course, be fully consulted before any changes are implemented. In that regard a Joint Forum will be established under an independent chair, Mr Stephen Brady, former Dublin Chief Fire Officer, to address issues regarding the reconfiguration of the control centre. The Forum will include Dublin City Council Management and Union representatives.

DFB has, I believe, provided very well for the emergency ambulance needs of Dublin for a very long time. I can assure the Deputy that there is no suggestion that NAS will take over the role of DFB in Dublin. I am happy to confirm that DFB will continue to be fully involved in emergency ambulance service delivery and there will be no diminution of such services.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy and that it explains the situation fully.