Last week in this Chamber, I called for the Labour Court to get involved in the ambulance strike and support our National Ambulance Service. A planned 48-hour strike, which would have commenced today, has been stood down to allow those talks to take place. Plans remain in place for a 72-hour work stoppage on 26 May and there is also a work to rule by front-line ambulance staff that began last week and is continuing at the moment. From my experience on the ground engaging with ambulance services, some members have gone back to work while they have been striking to actually answer particular calls. I hope that the Labour Court talks develop today and that we have a favourable outcome for all parties involved.

I spoke to somebody over the weekend who had a family member who experienced an incident and they had to call the ambulance. That was at 10 a.m. on Sunday and by 11.30 a.m. they were at Hyde Park in Roscommon getting an air ambulance. They were accepted into University Hospital Galway where the surgical team was fully prepped and that individual was discharged to Portiuncula hospital in Ballinasloe last night. I want to commend the National Ambulance Service because when it works, it works very effectively. Even with the work to rule, I must commend the National Ambulance Service staff on the work they are doing. At the same time, though, we know that some areas of the country are not as well served as others.

Once again, I call for that further discussion within this Chamber on the National Ambulance Service and the distribution model, especially for areas that do not have an emergency department, such as my own home area.

I acknowledge that the Government has approved a €750,000 support fund for businesses impacted by the devastating fire in the Tycor Business Centre in Waterford that we talked about last week. That was a devastating fire. It clearly had an impact on the community, the businesses there, and the social activities and the community activities in that centre. I learnt much about them from my colleague, Senator Conway, who of course was a city councillor there for many years. It has had an impact on over 200 jobs, between 30 and 40 small businesses, and community and social enterprise and schemes that are there. Our thoughts and our hearts are with them.

We also want to see that centre rebuilt. We want people to get back there. Clearly, the Tycor centre is a hub and has a serious impact on the community, and on enterprise and business, in the heart of Waterford. I acknowledge that payments of up to €5,000 have been made available for businesses, which will have to submit full applications and then eventually a follow-up with possibly €30,000 in funding. This approval has clearly come about by serious engagement with the Ministers of State, Deputy Butler and Deputy Cummins, by all of the local TDs, Senators, and my colleague, Senator Conway. I also acknowledge the very significant work by Waterford City and County Council, the officials and the fire services. Senator Scahill talked about the services there. We are fortunate in this country to have an amazing ambulance service, an amazing fire service and all of the responders in the health sector. This could have been a more devastating and damaging fire. We know about the environmental consequences from it too.

My ask here today is that the Government keeps it under constant review. I fear this may not be enough money but I am not qualified to say that. Having talked to stakeholders and people involved on the ground, there is a view that the Government should keep it under review. I think it will do that. This is not a criticism but I think we need to be actively keeping it under review. These businesses and this community have been devastated by this fire. It has been a great effort by all people in the services, particularly the Government, which stepped up with and advanced this funding. Hopefully, we will keep it under review.