Fine Gael TD Joe Cooney has sought assurances that Clare will be prioritised in plans by the National Ambulance Service (NAS) to recruit 48 new Paramedic Supervisors in 2026, describing the posts as critical for improving emergency care in rural parts of the county.
The HSE has approved a national investment programme for the service this year that includes the recruitment of about 263 additional whole time equivalent staff.
Clare is also due to receive additional Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) to operate the HSE’s Intermediate Care Service (patient transfer), but Deputy Cooney said the allocation of the 48 supervisory posts will be a decisive factor in strengthening clinical leadership and improving response times.
Under the national plan, the new supervisors will support five additional 12-hour emergency ambulance shifts across the seven-day week. Belmullet has been confirmed as one of the locations, with four more yet to be selected.
Deputy Cooney has written to Robert Morton, head of the NAS, urging that Clare, and particularly North and West Clare, be chosen as one of the remaining sites.
“These are some of the most remote areas in the country, with long travel times to Ennis and to the Emergency Department in UHL,” he wrote. “Any delays in the wider system tend to have a much greater impact on NAS availability locally. I strongly suggest that Clare be considered for one of these locations.”
Meanwhile, Deputy Cooney said he has received confirmation that additional 12-hour ambulance shifts are being introduced in Kilrush and Ennistymon, which will improve cover in West and North Clare. Other towns set to receive expanded emergency ambulance provision include Castlebar, Carrick-on-Shannon, Recess, Killybegs, Cork, Killarney, Clonmel, Gorey, Kilkenny, Wexford, Portlaoise, Maynooth, Navan and Dunshaughlin.
The NAS will also recruit 24 Emergency Medical Technicians to strengthen its Intermediate Care Service in Ennis, Bantry, Mullingar and Cavan. Deputy Cooney said he is awaiting confirmation of how many will be based in Ennis but noted that the additional staffing will free up paramedics and advanced paramedics to focus on emergency cases.
He added that a recent cross-party letter by Mid-West Oireachtas members to the Minister for Health, issued in response to the HIQA report on UHL, highlighted increased NAS resources as the fastest way to deliver improvements in urgent and emergency care in the region.
Deputy Cooney said he will continue to press the case for Clare as the NAS finalises its deployment plans for 2026.
