Ambulance Service

Wednesday, 24 June 2026

Questions (266)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

266. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the rationale for permitting the continuation of the revised crewing model introduced by the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) during the Covid-19 pandemic, which allowed an emergency medical technician (EMT) and a paramedic to crew an emergency ambulance; whether this measure was intended to be temporary and pandemic-specific; if she is satisfied that the current model does not represent a lowering of pre-hospital clinical standards; if she will address concerns regarding the significant disparity in training and qualifications between EMTs and paramedics; whether she has engaged with PHECC regarding reinstating the pre-pandemic minimum crewing standard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47931/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health (Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill)

PHECC have advised my Department that the current PHECC minimum crewing model for an emergency ambulance is two PHECC-registered practitioners, one of whom must be at the level of Paramedic or higher.

Whilst a temporary crewing model was in place to respond to the particular circumstances of COVID-19, the minimum crewing model in place today is unchanged from that which pertained prior to COVID-19.

Question No. 267 answered with Question No. 257.

Question No. 268 answered with Question No. 257.