The Minister for Health Leo Varadkar has confirmed that the Department of Health will purchase fifty new ambulances and will have 35 refurbished under a new multimillion euro investment.
It is thought the updating of the ambulance service will cost in the region of €18m. The much needed upgrade will see the number of emergency vehicles being expanded to 268 by the end of this year.
Mr Varadkar told reporters: “The introduction of over 150 vehicles in 2015 and 2016 is a real boost for the ambulance service. “It allows us to replace older vehicles and expand services, especially in non-emergency transport. Moving patients from high to lower acuity facilities means that patient flow in our major hospitals will improve, which should help to ease pressure on our emergency departments.
“Replacing older vehicles will also help reduce costs and improve reliability. Our ambulances and crews cover enormous distances every year. “It is vital that we continue to invest in and upgrade our fleet, so that our highly trained paramedics can give the best service they can, when our patients need it.
The Health Minister added: “I am delighted that additional resources will be provided to the ambulance service in 2016, to ensure ongoing improvements in service delivery.”