Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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1340. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the retention of the integrated fire-based emergency medical service within the Dublin fire brigade; if his attention has been drawn to any plans to alter any of the components of the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1853/17]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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1341. To ask the Minister for Health if plans to alter the retention of the integrated fire-based emergency medical service within the Dublin fire brigade FB are afoot, the person with the ultimate responsibility for decisions relating to this; if such a decision would need ministerial approval; and if he will make statement on the matter. [1854/17]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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1342. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Dublin City Council management has identified a requirement for four additional ambulances with the Dublin fire brigade to meet the capacity requirements identified by HIQA; if he will support the implementation of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1855/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1340 to 1342, inclusive, together.

Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) provide emergency ambulance services in Dublin city and county, by arrangement between Dublin City Council and the HSE. The HSE National Ambulance Service (NAS) provides some emergency capacity in the greater Dublin area, as well as non-emergency patient transport.

In recent years three comprehensive reviews of our ambulance services have been undertaken; the HIQA review, the independent Lightfoot Review of NAS capacity, and the review of Dublin ambulance services which was jointly commissioned by the HSE and Dublin City Council.

The HIQA report on ambulance services, which was published in December 2014, highlighted significant public safety issues arising from two ambulance services operating in the same domain. The report identified concerns around the existence of two separate control and dispatch processes, and also highlighted the need for greater clinical governance of both services.

The HIQA report points, very clearly, to the need for enhanced integration of service provision in the greater Dublin area. In that context, the HSE is working closely with Dublin City Council, which is leading on this issue on behalf of the four Dublin local authorities, to devise and agree the elements of a safe, sustainable, integrated and quality ambulance service for the citizens of Dublin. I fully accept that, in the interest of patient safety, we need the DFB and the NAS to have a more coordinated and integrated approach to service delivery.

I understand that HIQA has recently engaged with Dublin City Council and the NAS as a follow up to the 2014 report and in that context, issues with regard to capacity in the Dublin region may have arisen. I expect that HIQA will publish a further report in a matter of weeks. The Deputy will however be aware that additional funds have been provided to the NAS in 2017 to fund increase capacity. The allocation of these additional resources is an operational matter for the HSE.

The Dublin ambulance services review, which was commissioned in 2014, is focused on identifying a service model for the optimal provision of emergency ambulance services and patient care in the Dublin region, including service quality, patient safety and value for money. I understand that the Review has been completed and is under consideration by the HSE and Dublin City Council, who as I mentioned earlier, commissioned the Review.

While I have yet to be apprised of the detailed outcome of the Review, I can assure the Deputy that before any changes are implemented, a formal proposal for same will be required to be submitted to both myself and the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, for our consideration and approval. I therefore expect that my Department and the Dept of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government will, over the coming weeks, continue to engage with the HSE and Dublin City Council, in relation to any changes in service provision which may be proposed.