Joe Cooney
Question:821. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Health to detail all requests for additional staffing for the National Ambulance Service since January 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37478/25]
View answerTuesday, 8 July 2025
Questions (821)
Written answers
Requests for additional staffing for the National Ambulance Service (NAS) is a matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE). The HSE as part of their National Service Planning processes make requests for additional resources to my Department and all requests are considered in line with the annual estimates process.
This government is committed to continued investment in our National Ambulance Service (NAS), which has seen the annual financial allocation to the NAS grow by over 40% since 2022. This year's budget of €285 million includes €8 million in new service development funding for 180 new posts in the NAS, which will convert to a full year investment of €16 million in 2026. This additional funding is focussed on building further emergency frontline capacity, expanding alternative care pathways and further developing NAS specialist services including critical care retrieval.
Since January 2022, the total NAS staffing complement has grown by 20% to 2,455 whole time equivalents as of the end of April 2025. Around 85% of all NAS staff are employed in direct patient care roles.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible, with any further information it may have in the matter.