Improved ambulance service times in Connemara and Galway city are the hoped for outcomes of a meeting, taking place today, between Galway TDs and senators with key National Ambulance Service staff.
The meeting, which will take place in Dublin, has been arranged by the Minister for Community Development, Natural Resources and Digital Development, and Fine Gael Galway West TD, Seán Kyne.
Dep Kyne says the purpose of the meeting is to see “first-hand how the National Ambulance Service Control Centre works” and to see how ambulance response times in both Galway city and Connemara can be improved.
“The operation and organisation of ambulance services across a country is challenging,” says Minister Kyne, “but even more so in countries, such as Galway, with a much dispersed population and with a high number of communities in remote areas.”
He says despite Government investment in two new ambulance bases at Tuam and Mulranny, and the recruitment of several dozen new ambulance personnel, “significant challenges” remain in ensuring rural Galway, particularly Connemara, is “adequately served by ambulance services”.
“With the establishment of a new base at Tuam it was envisaged pressure on Galway city and, in turn, Connemara, would be reduced,” he says. “This objective has not, however, come to pass as planned and there have been several incidents recently where response times in both north and south Connemara have not been adequate.”
Dep Kyne says he will also be raising this issue with the Minister for Health, Simon Harris.
