Ambulance Service

519. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health whether there has been a change in policy within the National Ambulance Service regarding the transition of graduating paramedics from specified purpose contracts to permanent positions; the reason for requiring an internal competition process; the number of paramedics which are affected in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matte…

540. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health to provide further clarification and reasoning behind the changes within the HSE to the employment opportunities for paramedics; if she will ensure that the 80 paramedics who have recently qualified will be guaranteed permanent contracts, given they had been informed that would happen at the beginning of their contracts; if she has consider…

551. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the recent change that means that newly qualified paramedics are no longer being offered permanent positions within the National Ambulance Service (details supplied); whether the Department of Health was made aware of this change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17992/26]

552. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the problems encountered by recently qualified paramedics in gaining employment with the National Ambulance Service; if she believes that the paramedic qualification should effectively remain tied to a single employer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17993/26]

553. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Health if she will engage with the National Ambulance Service (NAS) following reports that approximately 80 newly qualified paramedics received an email from the NAS instructing them to sign a 16-week contract extension in order to remain in employment long enough to apply for a permanent position; the reason no prior engagement or warning…

586. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the reason 80 newly qualified paramedics who have completed a three year BSC in Paramedic Studies and all necessary examinations, placements and assessments will not move to permanent roles in the National Ambulance Service in what is a break from established practice. [18121/26]

271. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the circumstances under which an ambulance can be provided to transport a vulnerable patient to hospital appointments; if she believes that these circumstances apply to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17390/26]

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 recruitme…

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 Integrat…

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 st…

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 sup…

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) f…

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]