People's lives are being put at risk due to lengthy waits on ambulance call outs across the country.
That's according to Sinn Fein TD for Cavan and Monaghan, Cathy Bennett.
The local TD was reacting to information released to Northern Sound under a freedom of information request. Deputy Bennett says seconds can be the difference of life and death.
The data released under a freedom of information request by Northern Sound covers incidents classified as “Purple” and “Red” calls for 2025.
Purple calls are considered the highest level of emergency.
The national target is to respond in 75% of cases of life-threatening cardiac or respiratory arrest which are Purple calls and 45% of cases of life-threatening illness or injury which are Red calls in just under 19 minutes.
According to the information released to Northern Sound, the target for purple calls was never met on a national level with the closest being just over 74% in May and the lowest being in December at just over 62%.
While the 45% target for all Red calls were met for 5 months of the year on a national level with the lowest being December at over 37%. Deputy Bennett believes people living in the region are being put at risk due to these unacceptable wait times.
The local TD appealed to the Government, the HSE and the National Ambulance Service to react to this terrible situation and reduce these wait times.
