David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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2927. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the National Ambulance Service does not recognise intermediate care operatives as ambulance personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39656/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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2928. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the National Ambulance Service is asking intermediate care operatives to work on emergency ambulances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39657/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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2929. To ask the Minister for Health the staffing levels of the National Ambulance Service by CHO; the current number of whole-time equivalent posts by occupation currently working; the recommended and budgeted number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39658/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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2930. To ask the Minister for Health his plans for increasing National Ambulance Service whole-time equivalent staffing levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39659/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the Emergency Service Baseline and Capacity Review (submitted to Government in 2016) recommended significant investment in our ambulance services. In that context, the National Ambulance Service (NAS) is implementing a multi-annual programme involving manpower, vehicles and technology.

This year, in line with the Programme for Government commitment to continue to increase capacity in the National Ambulance Service, an unprecedented €187.5 million is being invested in these services. This includes €10m in development funding to facilitate the recruitment of 125 WTEs to progress priority areas in line with NAS strategic reform. Examples of strategic initiatives progressed in 2021 include:

- Continuing to target capacity deficits as identified in the NAS emergency service baseline and capacity review;

- Progressing the development of alternative patient care pathways;

- Strengthening the capacity of NAS critical care and retrieval services;

- Progressing the implementation of the Trauma System for Ireland.