Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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277. To ask the Minister for Health whether she is satisfied that the recent decision not to provide an automatic transition to permanent contracts for newly qualified paramedics will not negatively impact frontline ambulance capacity and response times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17405/26]

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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279. To ask the Minister for Health whether the HSE has advised her of any risks to service delivery arising from potential attrition of newly qualified paramedics as a result of uncertainty regarding permanent employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17407/26]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 277 and 279 together.

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

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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278. To ask the Minister for Health the current number of approved whole time equivalent paramedic posts within the National Ambulance Service; the number filled; the number vacant; and the projected staffing requirement for 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17406/26]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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280. To ask the Minister for Health the average ambulance response times in each HSE region in 2024 and to date in 2026; whether workforce shortages have been identified as a contributing factor in any region, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17408/26]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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281. To ask the Minister for Health whether she will direct the HSE and the National Ambulance Service to provide a clear and time bound pathway to permanent employment for paramedic trainees in order to protect frontline capacity and patient safety; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17409/26]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Graduates completing the programme in 2026 will be eligible to apply for permanent vacancies and new development posts in areas prioritised for expansion, based on service activity and operational need. On 6th February, the HSE advised the trade unions of challenges in progressing Year 3 Paramedics to permanent posts under the current processes. During this engagement, NAS outlined three specific elements of the existing process that require amendment to ensure that vacant, funded positions can be filled in a timelier manner. These changes are necessary to enable the successful Year 3 cohort to apply for available funded positions as they arise.

Graduates play a vital role in maintaining workforce capacity by filling vacancies arising from retirements and promotions, as well as supporting the creation of new posts linked to new service development under the National Service Plan. To ensure continuity of service delivery during this recruitment process, temporary contract extensions have been put in place for current graduates. All access to permanent employment within NAS is governed by the HSE’s employment and expenditure controls applicable in any given year.

Each year, the NAS undertakes a competitive recruitment process to select a cohort of Student Paramedics to complete the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Paramedic Studies and progress to registration with the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC). The 2025 campaign generated significant interest, attracting more than 1,000 applications. This structured education and training pathway provides the HSE with a sustainable pipeline of newly qualified and registered Paramedics.