Will the Minister for Health review the current situation within the National Ambulance Service where emergency response vehicles have been removed from off-duty paramedics as such vehicles are perceived to be a benefit-in-kind and the impact this decision will have on response times to an emergency?
Minister for Health states:
'I have been informed in recent weeks that a benefit-in-kind liability was identified by the HSE for staff using the NAS response vehicles when travelling from home to work. A review is under way in the National Ambulance Service, which it is hoped will be concluded in April. The National Ambulance Service took the prudent step of informing relevant staff members of a potential benefit-in-kind liability that may exist in 2025.
The HSE must comply with Revenue Commissioner regulations, like everybody else, in relation to what may be considered a potential personal use of a publicly-owned vehicle. The National Ambulance Service is also preparing to seek a ruling from the Revenue Commissioners in the matter.
It is important to clarify that the response vehicles highlighted by the Deputy are not patient-carrying vehicles and that is a really important distinction. The vehicles in question are rapid response vehicles for authorised NAS staff to respond to an incident in support of an emergency ambulance while on duty but they are not patient-carrying ambulances or patient-carrying vehicles.
The decision taken by the National Ambulance Service, pending the ruling by the Revenue Commissioners that has been sought, does not impact on the National Ambulance Service emergency ambulance provision. I emphasise the Government's commitment to investing in our National Ambulance Service, with an allocation of €285 million in 2025. That includes €8 million new service development funding, with a full year investment of €16 million in 2026, to deliver up to 180 additional posts this year.'
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