The programme for Government commits to an increase in ambulances and paramedics every year as well as to improving response times. I wish to raise with the Taoiseach the case of a local constituent of mine in Bray. The case involves young man with cerebral palsy who was involved in an accident yesterday in his wheelchair. He received a serious leg injury. He ended up on the ground and he waited for 56 minutes for an ambulance to arrive to treat him, even though the ambulance base is located in Loughlinstown, some 5 km away. For 56 minutes he lay on the ground waiting on an ambulance.

I do not believe that is acceptable. Does the Taoiseach think it is acceptable that a young disabled man lay on the ground waiting for care or treatment for 56 minutes? This is not an isolated incident. It is happening day in, day out across Wicklow and the State. What is the Taoiseach doing to address this situation?

I am very sorry to hear that Deputy Brady's constituent had to wait 56 minutes for an ambulance but, as I am sure Deputy Brady will appreciate, the national ambulance service has to prioritise calls. Perhaps the paramedics were out taking another call from someone who was at risk of dying or someone who had cardiac arrest or a stroke. The service has to prioritise. No matter how many ambulances the service has, there will be multiple calls at any given time and the ambulance service has to put priority on life-saving calls and prioritise according to clinical need.

Deputy Brady asked what we are doing to improve the ambulance service. The service plan for next year will provide additional funding for the ambulance service, as it did this year and last year. An extra €4 million will be provided for next year. Obviously, it will be up to the national ambulance service to decide how best to allocate that.