The National Ambulance Service (NAS) has confirmed that that it will make a Capital Submission to the HSE by the end of June for the construction of a new ambulance base for West Clare.
Welcoming the news, Clare Fine Gael Deputy Joe Cooney said the existing Ambulance Base, which is located on the grounds of Kilrush Nursing Home, is not fit for purpose and that the new facility will enhance ability of ambulance crews to respond to emergency calls across West Clare.
In response to representations by the Clare TD, the NAS said, “Kilrush has been identified as a station that requires replacement, and the NAS are working with our HSE Capital & Estates colleagues to develop a proposal for submission and approval to construct a new Ambulance Base. An initial Option Appraisal has been carried out to identify a suitable site for this development.”
“It is intended that a Capital Submission will be lodged in Q2 2025 seeking approval to proceed to procure a Design Team to advance the project,” added the NAS.
“The development of a new Ambulance Base is something that has been long sought after by Kilrush-based NAS staff,” explained Deputy Cooney. “The existing facilities are not fit for purpose and undermine the ability of ambulance crews to respond to emergency calls. My understanding is the existing base cannot take more than one ambulance and is not suitable to base a rapid response vehicle in the area.”
He continued, “The delivery of a new Ambulance Base in Kilrush will also help deliver more effective response times to emergency calls, thereby enhancing the treatment, transportation and handover of patients to the clinical team at the receiving hospital or emergency department. While Clare remains without an emergency department, it is critical that the HSE invest in improving its ambulance base infrastructure to ensure that ambulance crews are best equipped to treat patients and speedily transport them to emergency departments in Galway or Limerick.”
“The HSE needs to approve the Capital Submission that is being made by the NAS so that the project can move to design stage without delay. Furthermore, clarity is required around when construction might feasibly commence as the proposal for a new Ambulance Base has been spoken about for nearly 15 years. Ambulance staff in Kilrush deserve better facilities than those from which they are currently operating out of,” added Deputy Cooney.
