Ambulance response times are getting longer in this country. Handover times for ambulances in hospitals are getting longer. Six months ago, 12 ambulances were stuck at Drogheda hospital for hours. At the same time, no ambulance was available in Cavan, Monaghan, Meath and Louth at all. In 2016, there were 657 deaths before ambulances arrived. In 2023, that increased to 1,108 deaths. This February, I asked the National Ambulance Service the same question. It refused to answer the question. It is an accountability-free zone, refusing to answer TDs' questions on the number of people who have died waiting for an ambulance to come. We know that there is an intense strain on ambulance services at the moment and that it is leading to death and injury. Will the Taoiseach resource these services properly? Will he make sure that the workers have their pay rise implemented? Will he sit down with the workers to negotiate the implementation of that pay rise?

First of all, we have put significant increased resources into the ambulance service and have incrementally increased it on an ongoing basis. They have been very significant increases, which I outlined earlier to the House. I think it was a 41% increase since 2022. I can check that figure again.

Deputy Tóibín needs to be careful with figures, as he knows. He tends to manipulate figures from time to time.

No, I do not.

I have noticed that in different areas. Some people's cases may have had nothing to do with the ambulance service getting there. The Deputy must acknowledge that, too.

I have not said there was no progress.

I know, but the Deputy implies it. That is the problem.

I said there was a difference. The figure increased.

We need dialogue. We need negotiations in the WRC to get this resolved.