Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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521. To ask the Minister for Health the reason members of the fire service who are trained emergency first responders are not called to life-threatening emergencies such as cardiac arrests in view of the fact they could be on the scene of an emergency quicker than the ambulance service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8323/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In addition to specific functions relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Ambulance Service continues to respond to emergency calls, and to dispatch both land and air resources, as appropriate, from the National Emergency Operations Centre.

The deployment of fire personnel is, in the first instance, a matter for the local authorities who manage and operate fire services around the country.