Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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1008. To ask the Minister for Health the actions being taken to improve handover times for the National Ambulance Service at hospitals, which is currently impacting service. [43976/24]

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

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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1009. To ask the Minister for Health the level of investment being directed to the National Ambulance Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43977/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, this Government has a consistent track record of investment in the National Ambulance Service (NAS), with significant increases in funding since 2019. The HSE National Service Plan allocation for the NAS in 2024 was €231 million, representing an increase of €63 million, or more than 37%, from its 2019 allocation of just over €168 million.

As a direct result of this investment, NAS total staffing rose to 2,363 WTEs at the end of August 2024, which is an increase of 22% or 430 WTEs since December 2019.

This funding comes in recognition of the significant growth in demand for NAS services. In 2023 the NAS received almost 400,000 calls, a 14% increase on 2019 figures. In the year to end of August the NAS has received 228,284 emergency calls compared to 206,586 calls received in the same period in 2023, representing an almost 11% increase.

Despite increases in demand for pre-hospital emergency services, NAS emergency response time performance nationally has improved when compared to the previous year, showing the impact of continued Government investment in our National Ambulance Service.

Budget 2025 reconfirms this Governments commitment to continued investment in the NAS, with an additional allocation of €8m for new service developments in 2025. Increased funding in 2025 will provide for 180 additional NAS staff, including paramedics to support the delivery of essential frontline services, facilitate the expansion of alternative care pathways and the continued development of specialist services such as the NAS Critical Care Retrieval Service. Budget 2025 will also deliver further investment in the HSE National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) to improve capacity to treat more patients.

I trust this information has been of assistance to you.