THE chief ambulance
officer has moved to calm fears that the Rapid
Response Vehicle will be withdrawn from Buncrana.
Following concerns raised Fianna Fáil councillors in
the town, Senator Cecilia Keaveney contacted
ambulance chief Pauric Sheerin to get clarification.
“He has responded to say that the Rapid Response
Vehicle pilot project remains in place and continues
to target the areas as set out in the initial
project outline. These areas were South Sligo, West
Donegal and the Inishowen Peninsula," said Senator
Keaveney.
"The pilot project is additional to the services
already being provided in these areas and therefore
the deployment of these vehicles on a daily basis is
subject to demand levels, and the availability of
resources to deploy these additional resources."
The Moville-based senator, however, said it was
important that further clarification would be sought
in a meeting scheduled shortly between the Mayor of
Buncrana, Cllr Dermot McLaughlin and the HSE.
Senator Keaveney added: “Pauric also confirmed that
any future decisions made regarding these vehicles
and this form of deployment will be made in the
context of, and in accordance with, the findings of
the spatial analysis carried out and the tactical
deployment plan which will be developed.
"There has been a long standing request by the
people of Buncrana to have an ambulance for the
town. The Rapid Response Vehicle has been important
as a pilot operation." |
