Health Minister James Reilly has confirmed that talks are on-going regarding the redeployment of an existing ambulance from another base in Co. Roscommon to West Roscommon.
Denis Naughten again questioned the Minister in the Dáil yesterday (Tuesday) on the issue. “While the Minister has again confirmed that Ballaghaderreen is one of the locations being considered, it is disappointing that he has also confirmed that other locations are under consideration while talks are on-going with Roscommon County Council,” stated Denis Naughten.
“I’m glad that the Minister has at least provided some clarity on the issue after I raised the issue last week in the Dáil. I am surprised that he has failed to confirm that this will be a 24/7 service and I would now reiterate my call to the Government representatives locally to ensure that this project is fully delivered upon by July, as promised.
“However, I believe that it is unacceptable to reduce the ambulance service at any other location in Co. Roscommon and I would urge the Government to enhance the local ambulance service not spread existing resources even more thinly,” concluded Denis Naughten.
QUESTION NO: 662
DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Health (Dr. James Reilly)
by Deputy Denis Naughten
for WRITTEN ANSWER on 22/05/2012
* To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No 386 of 8 May 2012 if he will confirm that the Health Service Executive has selected a site at Ballaghaderreen Fire Station for the deployment of an ambulance to service West Roscommon and East Mayo; if works have already commenced to facilitate the location of an ambulance in Ballaghaderreen; if he will confirm that this service will be in place by July 2012 if he will confirm that a service level agreement is being drafted for signature between the ambulance service and the local authority regarding this site; if this will be a 24/7 base for an ambulance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Denis Naughten T.D.
REPLY.
The National Ambulance Service (NAS) has advised me that it is currently examining ways to improve its deployment of emergency resources in the Roscommon area, in order to enhance service levels and performance against national standards.
Emergency activity levels in the Roscommon area remain static. Therefore, the NAS will seek to use existing resources more efficiently in order to improve response times to the current level of calls. To this end, the NAS is examining, in consultation with staff representatives, the introduction of tactical deployment from ambulance stations and suitable emergency dispatch points in west Roscommon.
Work is progressing, under the terms of the Croke Park Agreement, on the introduction of the type of new work practices that would allow this service development to proceed. Although no decisions have been made at this stage, Ballaghadereen is one of the locations under consideration in this process. Ballaghadreen Fire Station has been considered as a suitable site and discussions with the Local Authority are at an advanced stage. Until this discussions and industrial relations issues are addressed, no further details can be confirmed at this stage.