I thank the Deputy for raising this very serious issue. I too have been speaking to a lot of ambulance paramedics. It is important to clarify for the record that there is no recruitment embargo in the National Ambulance Service, and there is absolutely no failure to offer permanent employment to paramedic graduates. Every paramedic who is graduating in 2026 will be offered a full-time, permanent contract with the National Ambulance Service. In fact, following constructive engagement between the HSE and representative unions last week, as the Deputy stated, agreement has now been reached on the arrangements for the transition of all of this year's graduates into permanent roles. The HSE has confirmed that full-time, permanent contracts will be available for all graduates completing their training in 2026. These roles will be drawn from funded and approved vacancies, including posts arising from retirements and promotions, as well as new posts linked to service development under the national service plan. The HSE has confirmed that there are more than enough vacancies to accommodate all of this year's graduates, and there will be a permanent job for everyone. Under the revised arrangements, graduates will now be assigned to permanent posts as close as possible to their home address following the completion of the staff transfer process for existing NAS personnel. When speaking to ambulance paramedics, that is something that was constantly raised with me. Where locations are oversubscribed, assignments will be made based on original recruitment panel placement, ensuring a fair and transparent approach. This reflects both operational requirements and existing agreed processes within the service. Since 2022, the Government has invested an additional €75 million in the NAS, with staffing increasing by 761 posts in that time. In 2026 we will see further major investment in the NAS, with approval for the recruitment of an additional 263 whole-time equivalent posts and €20 million in new funding. This will help to improve ambulance response performance by delivering 21 extra crewed ambulances operating at peak demand, as well as four additional intermediate care vehicles, and will further develop NAS alternative care pathways, including community paramedic services. The NAS is also establishing a new helicopter emergency medical service in the west north-west and a new NAS tertiary education site in Cork to further support paramedic education and training. The investment in 2026 will also see significant increases in NAS capital funding, including €34 million for renewal and expansion of the NAS fleet of emergency ambulances and other response vehicles. Graduates play a vital role in maintaining workforce capacity and safe service levels, and supporting new developments, particularly in the context of this sustained funding and expansion of services. As the NAS works to place all graduates in permanent positions, they have been given a 16-week extension to their current training contract to ensure continuity of service and employment for them. There will be no interruption in employment and no graduate left without a pathway to a permanent position. In summary, we are seeing a structured and agreed transition of graduates into permanent posts within an expanding national emergency service.

Sentiment score: 0.16

I thank Deputy Ó Murchú. These are really important points. As the Deputy said, all of us have been working with our ambulance paramedics over the years and we see the value of their work. Tonight I want to compliment them for their outstanding work in the community and the work they do for all of us. That is the main thing. There are three main points. First, full-time permanent contracts will be offered to all year 3 paramedic graduates in 2026. Agreement has now been reached on those posts and they will be assigned. Second, there is no recruitment embargo in the NAS. On the contrary, 263 additional posts and, as we said, €20 million in new funding have been approved this year, alongside continued and significant investment in the service. Third, graduates are not facing unemployment. They have been granted a 16-week extension to their existing contracts to ensure continuity while permanent assignments are finalised under the agreed process. The main thing is that these graduates are valued. They are needed and they are part of a service that is expanding significantly to meet growing demand. Our responsibility is to ensure those posts are all allocated fairly, transparently and in a way that meets operational needs across all communities while assigning graduates as close as possible to their homes. I welcome the resolution that has been reached. I remain committed, as does the Minister for Health, to supporting these graduates and to continuing the expansion of the NAS so that patients across the country receive timely, high-quality emergency care.

Sentiment score: 0.34