Paramedics not allowed keep respond car at their homes

Paramedics not allowed keep respond car at their homesParamedics have been informed they are no longer allowed to keep their respond car parked at their own homes as this would be considered Benefit in Kind and the workers should be paying extra tax.The rule, reportedly signed off last Friday, means paramedics will now have to leave their vehicles at a central location after their shift and drive home in their own cars — even if they're on call the next day. Pat Buckley, Sinn Féin TD for Cork East, called the policy "bonkers." Speaking to Patricia Messinger on C103, he explained how this impacts emergency response times. "If there's a call in the middle of the night, instead of responding immediately, the paramedic has to drive to the central location, pick up the vehicle, and then head to the emergency. It’s penny wise, pound foolish," he said.Deputy Buckley also pointed out that paramedics often go above and beyond, even using their vehicles off-duty to help in emergencies. The policy, he fears, will not only discourage people from joining the National Ambulance Service but could also push current paramedics to reconsider their roles.Pat Buckley told C103 this isn’t just a local issue. If the directive comes from Revenue, it’s a nationwide problem. Deputy Buckley said following changes to the ambulance service in 2013, locals have relied heavily on paramedics who go the extra mile.Listen Back to Cork East Deputy Pat Buckley speaking to Patricia Messinger on C103's Cork Today Show here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.