Sixty-four new ambulances for health service

Sixty-four new ambulances are being provided this year as part of a €9.4m investment under the fleet replacement programme.

The Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, launched the first three vehicles today to replace ambulances which have reached the end of their life-cycle and to support additional services.

The vehicles will be allocated to ambulance bases across Ireland.

A Rapid Response Vehicle was also unveiled today, which will allow paramedics to get to the patient and start treatment while an ambulance is in transit.

Minister Varadkar has said today's announcement is a very significant investment.

"There was under investment in the ambulance service in 2010 and in 2011 because of the financial crisis," Mr Varadkar said.

"But this year 9.4m has been provided for replacement ambulances, they are new and refurbished ambualnces, there are 64 of them and three of which were received today and the full 64 will be with us by the end of the year and we hope that next year we have the same again if not more."