It will be at least two months before the new ambulance base in North Dublin will be open and operational, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has said.
Fianna Fáil has called on Minister for Health Leo Varadkar to make “an urgent statement” in relation to the matter, and has claimed the region will be left with just one ambulance in the meantime.
“An area serving a population of 300,000 people has been left without any HSE ambulance for over a week, with warnings that this gaping hole in emergency services could continue for at least another next two months,” said the party in a statement.
“It comes after a new HSE ambulance base, which was due to open on Tuesday last week, has been deemed unusable as it is lacking the most basic facilities. The HSE told ambulance workers this week that it could be at least another two months before the facility is ready.
“This means that the entire North County Dublin region has lost its two HSE ambulances. Just one Dublin Fire Brigade ambulance is left to deal with all emergencies in the region.”
The HSE said the North Dublin area is currently served by the HSE ambulance service and the Dublin Fire Brigade ambulance service. “The new HSE ambulance base in Swords is due to open in the coming months,” it said.
“The station’s building works have been completed which now allows for the fitting out process to be undertaken. There have been ambulance services provided by HSE in North Dublin for some time.The HSE crews will continue to cover the area as well as the Dublin Fire Brigade ambulance service.”
Taoiseach Enda Kenny said in the Dail on Wednesday that €144 million had been allocated to the National Ambulance Service for 2015.
There is a fleet of 500 vehicles including emergency ambulances.
