I have been continously raising with the Health Minister and the HSE the need to provide additional resources in the North East region with particular reference to the urgent need to upgrade the services in counties Cavan and Monaghan.

We have all heard of too many instances of delayed responses to emergency calls and this can only be rectified by the Minister providing the necessary financial resources.

I welcome the allocation of 6 additional staff in 2018 for the Monaghan and Castleblayney Ambulance Stations but there is still an urgent need for the service to be upgraded.

There is a need to recruit additional personnel.