Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 January 2017
142. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to change the delivery of Dublin's ambulance service; if he has discussed the future of this service with the Minister for Health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3379/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of health services in Ireland, including the provision of ambulance services, is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE), operating under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Health. Within my Ministerial remit, fire services in Ireland are provided by local authorities in accordance with the provisions of the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. Dublin City Council provides fire services for the city and county of Dublin which are resourced by the four Dublin Local authorities, through Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB).
Dublin City Council through Dublin Fire Brigade also provides an ambulance service on behalf of the HSE. This service is provided under section 25 of the Fire Services Act 1981 which enables local authority fire services to carry out or assist in any operations of an emergency nature. However, it does not provide a legislative basis for fire services to provide a substitute or alternative ambulance service operating outside of the State’s health services provided by the HSE.
A Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) report of December 2014 highlights patient safety issues arising from two ambulance services operating in the same domain and points clearly to the need for enhanced integration of service provision in the greater Dublin area between DFB and the National Ambulance Service (NAS).
While I have not discussed this matter directly with my colleague the Minister for Health, discussions are taking place between our Departments. Both Departments have requested implementation/action plans in relation to service and governance issues that could be expected to arise from the need to meet HIQA’s concerns, while continuing to meet statutory fire service requirements.
While I have no remit in relation to the provision of ambulance services, from my perspective, as Minister with responsibility for fire safety and the provision of fire services by local authorities, I am concerned that local authority and fire services resources are not diverted from their statutory fire service and fire safety responsibilities where they are providing assistance for another public body. Available local authority resources should be prioritised for community and other fire safety initiatives as well as their statutory fire service response functions.
By placing the citizen in need of medical services at the centre of considerations and with flexibility from all the stakeholders concerned, I am confident that a robust over-arching plan can be put in place which will see the infrastructure and staff of Dublin Fire Brigade in a position to provide commissioned ambulance services on behalf of the HSE in the Dublin area on the basis of cost recovery and appropriate governance arrangements, while still meeting their range of fire service responsibilities as a priority.
