asked the Minister for Health the steps he proposes to take with a view to improving the ambulance service available through the health boards.

The provision of ambulance services is a matter for each health board in the first instance. Individual health boards can improve the ambulance service in their own area without reference to me as Minister for Health.

However, there is also a national structure for the co-ordination and development of ambulance services, comprising an Ambulance Services Council and an Ambulance Operations Committee. These two groups are representative of ambulance officers, health boards management, medical and technical advisers and the Department of Health. They were set up in late 1983, at the request of the health board chief executive officers, to replace the Ambulance Services Committee which served as an advisory group to successive Ministers for Health. The new structure gives the health boards a more decisive role in relation to changes in the ambulance service and I expect that any recommendations for major improvements in the service will be channelled through the Ambulance Services Council to me.

The present ambulance service operates very satisfactorily and I am not aware of calls for its improvement.

Is the Minister satisfied that the ambulance services, particularly the emergency services, are satisfactory as run by the health boards?

I am reasonably satisfied. I have not had any complaints. The Ambulance Operations Committee consists of eight ambulance officers, two programme managers, two technical services officers, one accident emergency consultant, one Army representative, one representative from Dublin Fire Brigade and two from the Department of Health. They prepare the plans and strategies for ambulance services and are responsible for implementing these, subject to the prior agreement of the Ambulance Services Council. It is rather a convoluted structure but it works. The council consists of a CEO, a programme manager, one representative from the Department of Health and three representatives from the Ambulance Operations Committee.

I take it that the Minister is satisfied with the existing services. Would he agree that it would be inappropriate to have any reduction in services?

That sounds like argument.

I agree that it is inappropriate. The Deputy mentioned last week that the Western Health Board were concerned about the situation but it was not raised by them with the Department.

Is the Minister aware that a significant number of ambulances have clocked up over 100,000 miles? Would he agree that they would hardly be an appropriate type of vehicle for the service? Would he also agree that a review is being undertaken, particularly by the Western Health Board, which would reduce the emergency services available and render the position less than satisfactory?

I am not so aware. The matter has not been raised on a direct basis with my Department but they will be in touch with the health boards in the very near future to discuss current budgets and I will ask them to raise the matter at that meeting.

Has the question of the age of the ambulances and their mileage been raised?

I do not know. I do not run the health boards; I provide the resources. I am not an overseer of mileage on health board ambulances.

The Minister has said that he is satisfied with the existing service. Would he agree that a reduction in the rostering of the crews of ambulances and the non-availability of weekend cover would render this service in the Western Health Board area inadequate as an emergency service?

I would not think so. I know the capacity of the CEO.

The Chair regards that as argument which is not permissible.