More Than €25m Spent On Private Ambulances Since 2012

More than €25 million has been spent on private ambulances since 2012, Sinn Féin's Health Spokesperson, Louise O'Reilly, has revealed.

In figures released to Ms O'Reilly in a response to a Parliamentary Question, HSE revealed it has spent €25,630,392 on private ambulances since 2012.

Slamming the figures, Ms O'Reilly said the "colossal" figure "does not make sense or represent value for tax payers money".

"Privatisation in its various guises has been spreading across our health service for some time now. The outsourcing of ambulance services to private companies by our health services is further evidence of this," she said.

"The Government and the private interests involved will say that it is more cost effective, however, there is no evidence of it being a cheaper, more efficient, or innovative method of providing this essential public service.

"Figures released to me in a response to a Parliamentary Question have shown that the state has spent €25,630,392 on private ambulances since 2012. This colossal spend on hiring private ambulance services does not make sense or represent value for tax payers money.

"It is my belief that the HSE should be purchasing and staffing new ambulances which would make more economic sense in the long run. It should be noted that the money spent on private ambulance services since 2012 would have bought at least 116 fully equipped emergency ambulances."

Deputy O'Reilly added that there has been a near €2m jump in expenditure on private ambulances between 2014 and 2016.

"The State needs to ensure that we have a high quality, publicly owned stock of ambulances instead of putting money into the pockets of private companies which does not constitute fiscal prudence or a benefit to the taxpayer," she concluded.

(LM)