Ambulance Service
Dail Éireann — 2026-04-21
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David Cullinane (SF), Waterford

The paramedics that I have spoken to, and I have spoken to many, are all in favour of reform, but they also want to know that the Government has their backs and is putting in place the capacity. The Minister is right to say there has been an increase in the number of paramedics, but the objective was to double the number of paramedics over a five- to six-year period because that is what was estimated was needed. I gave the Minister the figure that, for 2026, the target is 4,780. The Department and the HSE are telling me that, at best, it will reach 2,920. We are going to be somewhere between 2,000 and 2,500 paramedics short.
In 2023, the Government cut the target response times for categories purple and red from 80% to 50% and from 75% to 45%, respectively, within the specified time period, but those targets are still not being met. The targets that were set are not being met in relation to response times, and the number of paramedics that we need is not being met. It is falling back on those paramedics who are in the system. They are clearly crying out to the Government, the Ministers and the HSE to say they are voting for strike action and voting no confidence in the management of the health service and the National Ambulance Service because they do not see the concrete actions that they need being taken.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-04-21/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-21T01:01:08+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-21