The programme for Government states that there will be a gradual improvement in our health services. It also refers to the ambulance service. I wish I did not have to bring to the Taoiseach's attention an incident that occurred in my county about a week ago.

Is this about the programme for Government?

It is part of the programme for Government with regard to health. A 13 year old girl with severe cardiac issues waited an hour for an ambulance in Loughglinn in west Roscommon. Eventually an ambulance from Sligo arrived at the scene. However, only for neighbours and a nurse I do not know if that girl would be alive today. As the Minister, Deputy Ring, will be aware, there is no ambulance in west Roscommon. What is most insulting is that the HSE took over the old Garda station, opened an ambulance base, put the light on in the building and when there is an ambulance available at Roscommon University Hospital, it is parked now and again at the building.

This is not good enough and people are very concerned. When will County Roscommon get a few extra ambulances in order that the lives of people, such as that young girl who had to wait an hour for an ambulance, are not threatened?

It is neither my function nor that of the Minister for Health to determine where ambulances are located. Rather, it is a matter for the National Ambulance Service, which has received a budget increase every year in recent years. It is for that service to decide where it is best to locate new ambulances. However, it is important to bear in mind that it now uses a dynamic deployment system whereby rather than being assigned to specific areas, ambulances operate as a fleet, with the nearest one to a call attending the location. I acknowledge that targets on response times are not being met and the Minister is very aware of that.