266. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the rationale for permitting the continuation of the revised crewing model introduced by the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) during the Covid-19 pandemic, which allowed an emergency medical technician (EMT) and a paramedic to crew an emergency ambulance; whether this measure was intended to be temporary and pandemic-specific; if she is satisfied that the current model does not represent a lowering of pre-hospital clinical standards; if she will address concerns regarding the significant disparity in training and qualifications between EMTs and paramedics; whether she has engaged with PHECC regarding reinstating the pre-pandemic minimum crewing standard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47931/26]

PHECC have advised my Department that the current PHECC minimum crewing model for an emergency ambulance is two PHECC-registered practitioners, one of whom must be at the level of Paramedic or higher.

Whilst a temporary crewing model was in place to respond to the particular circumstances of COVID-19, the minimum crewing model in place today is unchanged from that which pertained prior to COVID-19.