Questions

277. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health whether she is satisfied that the recent decision not to provide an automatic transition to permanent contracts for newly qualified paramedics will not negatively impact frontline ambulance capacity and response times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17405/26]

278. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the current number of approved whole time equivalent paramedic posts within the National Ambulance Service; the number filled; the number vacant; and the projected staffing requirement for 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17406/26]

279. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has advised her of any risks to service delivery arising from potential attrition of newly qualified paramedics as a result of uncertainty regarding permanent employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17407/26]

280. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the average ambulance response times in each HSE region in 2024 and to date in 2026; whether workforce shortages have been identified as a contributing factor in any region, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17408/26]

281. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health whether she will direct the HSE and the National Ambulance Service to provide a clear and time bound pathway to permanent employment for paramedic trainees in order to protect frontline capacity and patient safety; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17409/26]

294. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason for recent changes this month for newly qualified paramedics now having to apply for permanent positions in the HSE National Ambulance Service, when previously the long established practice was they were offered permanent positions with the service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17461/26]

306. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health whether a decision has been taken to discontinue the long-standing practice whereby newly qualified paramedics employed by the National Ambulance Service on specified purpose contracts automatically transitioned to permanent contracts upon completion of training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17698/26]

307. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of newly qualified paramedics in 2026 have been informed that they must now apply through an internal recruitment competition in order to secure permanent positions within the NAS, by region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17701/26]

308. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the current number of vacant paramedic posts within the NAS, including a breakdown by county; and how requiring newly qualified paramedics to compete for permanent posts aligns with workforce planning needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17702/26]

309. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health whether consultation took place with staff representatives or unions prior to any change in the pathway from SPC to permanent posts within the NAS; if she will provide details of such consultation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17703/26]

310. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Health the reason for the recent change in the long-established practice whereby newly qualified paramedics in the National Ambulance Service were offered permanent contracts upon completion of their training; the rationale for requiring the current cohort of graduating paramedics to instead apply for permanent positions through an internal recruitment competition; the …

311. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the National Ambulance Service (NAS) operational area, management division and reporting unit that covers the towns and villages and rural hinterland of Midleton, Youghal, Carrigtwohill, Cobh, Aghada, Castlemartyr, Killeagh, Cloyne, Mitchelstown and Fermoy; and to clarify whether NAS reporting aligns with the new HSE Health Regions and Integrated Healthcare Areas.…

312. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of emergency incidents within the HSE South West’s Cork North and East Integrated Healthcare Area, in each of the years 2024 and 2025 where National Ambulance Service response times exceeded times (details supplied), by call priority and year, in tabular form. [17726/26]

313. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of frontline emergency ambulances, rapid response vehicles and other National Ambulance Services resources routinely rostered to serve the HSE South West’s Cork North and East Integrated Healthcare Area (IHA), to cover Youghal to Midleton specifically; and the number of shifts or hours where cover was reduced or unavailable due to staffing shortages or …

314. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the whole-time equivalent (WTE) staffing complement of the National Ambulance Service in the operational area identified as serving the east Cork towns of Midleton and Youghal listed, including, sanctioned posts, filled posts, vacant posts, staff on long-term leave, broken down by grade (paramedic, advanced paramedic, EMT, control staff and support grades) for eac…

315. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the whole-time equivalent (WTE) staffing complement of the National Ambulance Service serving the HSE South West’s Cork North and East Integrated Healthcare Area (IHA), including, sanctioned posts, filled posts, vacant posts, staff on long-term leave , broken down by grade (paramedic, advanced paramedic, EMT, control staff and support grades) for each of the years…

318. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the changes which have been made to the long-established process of automatic progression for paramedic graduates into full time employment with the National Ambulance Service; the rationale for any changes to this process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17743/26]

822. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the additional staffing, vehicles and funding allocated to National Ambulance Services in 2025 and 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16404/26]

833. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 145 of 20 November 2025, if she will provide an update on the project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16483/26]

843. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Health the number of rapid response vehicles in each county in each of the years 2021 to 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16521/26]

844. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Health when the rapid response vehicle will be re-instated in Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16522/26]

862. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Health if she will address and resolve the unfair and unprecedented change to established practice of granting contracts to persons who successfully complete training (details supplied). [16642/26]

904. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health the reason the National Ambulance Service has asked a cohort of recently qualified paramedics to sign temporary contracts and apply for permanent jobs, rather than automatically transition into permanent positions as they have done historically; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16926/26]

905. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health whether there is a risk some newly qualified paramedics will not be hired by the National Ambulance Service as a result of the service’s new application process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16927/26]

906. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health whether there is a risk the National Ambulance Service’s operations could be disrupted by staffing issues as a result of the service’s new trainee application process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16928/26]