Ambulance Service
Dail Éireann — 2026-03-18
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Ruairí Ó Murchú (SF), Louth

We need to ensure that is delivered as close to home as possible and that we see transparency in the process. The fear relates to what will happen in the future. We are very glad this solution has arisen but the problem should not have arisen. There should not have been a need for these discussions between the union and the HSE because this was an absolute breach of trust. Also, we are talking about 76 of those who are graduating now, but there were 400 altogether, so we need to ensure that they will also face the same set of circumstances, that they will have a position that we absolutely need them to have and that they can be placed as close to home as possible. I believe that is absolutely necessary.
My understanding is that the staffing number for the NAS is around 2,500, with about 1,800 front-line staff. I am also told that we need about 1,000 more personnel. When I look at the National Service Plan 2026, I do not see answers in relation to the needs that Louth has at this point in time. We are all talking about community paramedics, and that is something we all welcome, but it is also about seeing movement regarding the recognition of those who have advanced paramedic training and seeing more privileging courses. We need all of those issues to be dealt with.
It is very important that people are close to home. We can see the issues that would arise if somebody had a very long commute at the moment. I accept it is not the Minister of State's fault in relation to Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu's illegal war, but the fact is that for three weeks now we have been looking at a cost-of-fuel crisis on top of a cost-of-living crisis and we really need to see action taken. I would have thought that what is going on at the minute might bring sufficient focus for the Government, but it looks like it was probably necessary for Sinn Féin to bring forward this evening's Private Members' business to place an absolute focus on it. Like many others, I have community nurses sending me letters and emails and making correspondence on the basis of that high cost. I will give those to the Minister of State afterwards. They are worried that they may not be able to provide the service required because of the cost-of-living crisis.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-03-18/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:45+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-03-18