The programme for Government makes a clear commitment to increase the number of ambulances and paramedics. We know that the optimum time to reach a patient in a life-threatening situation is eight minutes. However, a report commissioned by the HSE last year clearly showed that in rural areas, this target was not being met.

It was met in only one out of 15 cases. As we all know, there have been numerous cases where ambulances have taken an hour to reach patients in life-threatening circumstances. We also know that the policy of dynamic deployment is failing and will not work. Paramedics and ambulance drivers are being put under pressure to travel long distances to reach an incident. More importantly, patients' lives are being put at risk. This issue needs to be addressed. Will the Tánaiste advise me what is being done to improve response times in rural areas? What resources are being put in place, as committed to in the programme for Government?

Increased resources are being provided in this area. In my area there is a new air ambulance service which is a community initiative and looking for the support of the HSE. There are multiple initiatives in different parts of the country, particularly in areas where people suffer from rural isolation, where response times are not as good as they need to be. On the precise increase in funding and so on, I can ask the Minister to come back with the facts.