Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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1559. To ask the Minister for Health if he will confirm that he will instruct the Commission for Public Service Appointments to conduct an immediate audit on the recruitment of qualified paramedics for the National Ambulance Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1741/23]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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1567. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to instructing the National Ambulance Service to undertake an independent review of the bank of questions used as part of the MCQ assessment, given the low success rates in campaigns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1749/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1559 and 1567 together.

As the Deputy may be aware, competitions for the recruitment of pre-hospital emergency care practitioner positions within the National Ambulance Service (NAS) are administered by the Health Service Executive's National Recruitment Service (NRS). I have, therefore, asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly with any pertinent information it may have on this matter, as soon as possible.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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1560. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to setting an annual qualified paramedic recruitment target that is filled by ranking all applicants and taking from the highest rank down until the target is reached, without omitting eligible candidates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1742/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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1561. To ask the Minister for Health if he will confirm that a system will be put in place to ensure adequate capacity in the National Ambulance College for successful candidates to the National Ambulance Service to commence any induction and training required within 90 days of the campaign closing, in order that no successful candidates are left waiting on the panel indefinitely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1743/23]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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1562. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to putting in place a time limit of 90 days for the time that successful candidates can be left on a panel before a formal job offer is made in the National Ambulance Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1744/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1561 and 1562 together.

As these items relate to operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy Directly as soon as possible.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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1563. To ask the Minister for Health the support that is given to new-entry qualified paramedics as per the National Ambulance Service workforce support policy, education and competency assurance framework; if there are any plans to update this framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1745/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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1564. To ask the Minister for Health if he will investigate the reason that the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council is awarding qualifications to the paramedics and advanced paramedics that are not able to pass a competency assessment based on PHECC guidelines and training standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1746/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) is the independent statutory body with responsibility for standards, training and education in prehospital emergency care, including the award of the National Qualification in Emergency Medical Technology (NQEMT).  Accordingly, I have asked the PHECC to respond to the Deputy in the matter, as soon as possible. 

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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1565. To ask the Minister for Health the reason that the National Ambulance Service uses an induction programme in lieu of competency assessments for Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council-registered EMTs and does not apply a similar process to PHECC-registered paramedics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1747/23]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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1566. To ask the Minister for Health the reason that the National Ambulance Service does not accept Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council-qualified paramedics onto an induction programme where any policy or educational gaps can be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1748/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1565 and 1566 together.

As this item relates to operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.