Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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210. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will report on the waiting time figures for emergency calls for ambulances for the north Dublin area; the measures being taken to reduce them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9359/23]

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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211. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he is aware of any retention issues among emergency response paramedics in the health services. [9360/23]

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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212. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if there are sufficient ambulance and paramedic staff in both the National Ambulance Service and Dublin Fire Brigade serving the Dublin area; if there are unfilled vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9361/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 210 to 212, inclusive, together.

The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003.

My Department supports fire authorities through setting general policy, providing the legislative framework, running a central training programme and issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority infrastructural projects. The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management manages fire service issues in my Department.

The prioritisation of work and effective management of all resources is, in the first instance, a matter for management in each of the fire services, based on their assessment of local needs and requirements. In relation to the staffing requirements in each local authority, under the Local Government Act, 2001 it is the responsibility of each Chief Executive to employ such staff and to make such staffing, funding, recruitment and organisational arrangements as may be deemed necessary for the purposes of carrying out the functions of their local authority

The provision of emergency medical services, including pre-hospital emergency care, is the responsibility of the HSE which operates the National Ambulance Service (NAS) and emergency departments in hospitals in accordance with health sector legislation and national health policy.

As Minister with policy and legislative responsibility for fire safety and the provision of fire services by local authorities, I am primarily concerned that local authority provided fire services are meeting their statutory obligations in respect of provision of fire services and fire safety, as set out in the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003.

Dublin City Council provides fire services for the city and county of Dublin, which are resourced by the four Dublin Local Authorities, through Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB). Dublin City Council, through DFB, also provides an emergency ambulance service on behalf of the HSE.

The provisions of section 25 of the Fire Services Act 1981 enable local authority fire services to provide a response to a range of emergency situations other than fires. Therefore, while operating under fire services legislation, Dublin City Council’s fire services are in effect acting as an agent for the HSE in operating their Emergency Ambulance service. However, this does not confer a role on myself as the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in relation to these functions. The HSE operates under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Health.

My Department does not routinely collect the operational data requested by the Deputy. Any matters in relation to the operation of, or staffing level of Emergency Ambulance service arrangement between Dublin City Council and the HSE would be a matter for the HSE itself and Dublin City Council in the first instance.