Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1201. To ask the Minister for Health the steps his Department has taken to address the ambulance service provision issues identified in the 2016 Brady and Flaherty Review of Arrangements for the Provision of the Emergency Ambulance service in the Dublin Region; the progress to date on each of the 16 recommendations; the timeline he is working towards for implementation; if he intends to publish an implementation plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12490/23]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1221. To ask the Minister for Health the status of all 16 recommendations from the 2016 Review of Arrangements for the Provision of Emergency Ambulance Service in the Dublin region; the progress to date on each recommendation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12541/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1201 and 1221 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, ambulance services in Dublin are primarily provided by Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) through an arrangement between Dublin City Council (DCC) and the HSE. The HSE National Ambulance Service (NAS) provides emergency ambulance resources in support of the DFB to address service demand in the Dublin area, where required.

There is a high level of cooperation between the DFB and the HSE NAS on day-to-day operational matters. This collaborative relationship was further strengthened during the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts are ongoing to build on this cooperation to strengthen arrangements for the delivery of ambulances services in Dublin.

A joint HSE and DCC chaired Task and Finish Group has been established to strengthen the service delivery model for ambulance services in Dublin, centered on patient safety and maintaining a highly professional ambulance service for the citizens of Dublin. The Group held it's first meeting on the 21st February 2023 and it is due to hold it's next meeting shortly.

Membership of the Group comprises representatives from the HSE, Dublin City Council, Dublin Fire Brigade, National Ambulance Service, trade union representatives, as well as representatives from the Department of Health and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

As the work of the Task & Finish group is ongoing, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy with any further pertinent information it may have on the Deputies queries, as soon as possible.