Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 May 2026
1246. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the National Ambulance Service maintains any internal target timeframe between receipt of a 999 call and allocation of an ambulance resource, even where such targets are not publicly reported. [37848/26]
View answer1250. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any incidents involving delayed ambulance allocation have been escalated to the HSE Enterprise Risk Register, Serious Incident Management Team, or National Incident Management System since 2020. [37852/26]
View answer1251. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the National Ambulance Service maintains a central dataset recording the elapsed time between emergency call receipt and ambulance resource allocation for every 999 incident nationally. [37853/26]
View answer1280. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any ambulance allocation delays exceeding 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes or longer are centrally recorded, categorised, monitored or escalated within the National Ambulance Service. [37886/26]
View answer1283. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any mortality, morbidity or patient-outcome analysis has been conducted examining the impact of delayed ambulance allocation or dispatch since 2020.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37889/26]
View answer1286. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any regional variance data exists comparing ambulance allocation times between urban and rural regions. [37892/26]
View answer1287. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the National Ambulance Service maintains any internally recorded median or average ambulance allocation times from 999 call receipt to dispatch decision; and whether those figures are publicly reported. [37894/26]
View answer1292. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any internal analysis has been conducted regarding regional disparities in ambulance allocation times between urban and rural areas since 2020. [37899/26]
View answer1296. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the National Ambulance Service records the number of incidents in which ambulance allocation exceeds internally accepted dispatch timelines; and if so, to provide annual figures from 2020 to date. [37903/26]
View answer1300. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the National Ambulance Service maintains a dataset recording the longest ambulance dispatch allocation delays nationally and by region; and if so, to provide details. [37907/26]
View answer1301. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any category of ambulance call is currently operating outside intended dispatch allocation standards on a recurring basis. [37908/26]
View answer1302. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any formal escalation thresholds exist within the National Emergency Operations Centre for excessive ambulance allocation delays. [37909/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1246, 1250, 1251, 1280, 1283, 1286, 1287, 1292, 1296 and 1300 to 1302, inclusive, together.
As outlined in earlier answers to the Deputy, National Ambulance Service (NAS) key performance indicators (KPIs) relating to emergency resource allocation, as published in the Health Service Executive's National Service Plan and based on the HIQA standard, align to the Priority Dispatch Standard as published by the regulator for the profession, the Prehospital Emergency Care Council.
NAS performance against KPI targets included in the NSP is reported on a monthly basis in line with the HSE's Performance Management Framework. The HSE Framework is designed to ensure that delivery of all its healthcare services, including those provided by the NAS, are of the highest quality.
Regarding the Deputy's specific questions, as these relate to NAS day-to-day service and operational matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to him directly with any further pertinent information it may have, as soon as possible.
