asked the Minister for Health if he will consider providing a heart ambulance to serve the north side of Dublin city.

Under the sponsorship of the Heart Foundation a cardiac ambulance service is provided by a private ambulance organisation based on Stillorgan. This service is available to all parts of the city. The public authority ambulance services are, of course, also available for the speedy transport of seriously ill patients to hospital.

In view of the excellence of the Stillorgan service, would the Minister request the private concern involved to open a depot or establishment on the north side of the city and thereby alleviate the problems concerned in heart attacks and save many lives in the process?

This whole matter is being examined with a view to improving the personnel aspect, having more specialised people on the ambulance. This is the particular problem I understand in regard to extending the service.