Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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179. To ask the Minister for Health if he is aware of a serious incident that resulted in the death of a person (details supplied) in Celbridge in County Kildare, where an ambulance was sent from St. James's Hospital in Dublin as opposed to from Maynooth in County Kildare and took 45 minutes to reach the injured person; the reason the ambulance was sent from St. James's Hospital as opposed to from Maynooth; his views that the length of time it took for the ambulance to arrive is acceptable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41960/15]

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 Government is committed to the improvement of our ambulance services. A significant reform programme is underway to reconfigure the way pre-hospital care services are managed and delivered. To this end, the NAS received an increase of €5.4m in funding in 2015, to improve technology and clinical audit and address gaps in service. Further additional funding will be provided to the NAS in 2016.

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the specific information sought by him. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.