Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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35. To ask the Minister for Health to report on the implementation of the action plan of the national ambulance service capacity review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20950/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Capacity Review was published in May along with a comprehensive action plan which incorporates the recommendations of both the Capacity Review and the 2014 HIQA Report on the National Ambulance Service (NAS). As the Action Plan will be implemented over a number of years, a phased investment in a multi annual programme involving manpower, vehicles and technology will be required. To that end, the Programme for Government commits to additional annual investment in the ambulance service in terms of personnel and vehicles. The Deputy can be assured that my Department engages on an ongoing basis with the NAS in relation to service requirements and performance, and will continue to do so to ensure that the action plan is implemented.

I should perhaps mention that many of the key recommendations in the Capacity Review, and the HIQA Report, were already being addressed as part of a significant programme of reform and modernisation of the NAS which has been underway in recent years. Additional funding of €7.2m has been provided for the NAS in 2016, which includes €2m for new developments.