Calls have been made for a relief panel to be put in place to deal with staff shortages in Clare's Ambulance Service.
It follows a meeting with the National Ambulance Service at its control centre in Tallagh yesterday, where representatives cited difficulties in hiring staff as the main reason behind the county's ambulance crisis.
A number of local represntatives including Clare Fine Gael TD Pat Breen and Fianna Fáil's Timmy Dooley travelled to Tallagh yesterday where they met with representatives of the National Ambulance Service at it's control centre.
It was in response to growing concerns in Clare over reduced emergency cover, which saw the rapid response vehicle being stood down on a number of occasions over the past two years on account of staff shortages.
The National Ambulance service says its facing ongoing difficulties in recruiting staff but it says that 66 paramedics who are currently being trained will come on stream next year and a further 30 will be hired at the beginning of 2016.
Clare Fine Gael TD Pat Breen is confident this will address the issue.
But the Chairman of the HSE's Regional Health Forum West says this doesn't address the problem in Clare in the meantime.
Councillor Tom McNamara is calling for a relief panel to be put in place in the event that shifts aren't covered.
