The Health Service Executive (HSE) is denying that an ambulance was not available to help a dying man in Co. Kildare.

It was claimed that it had taken 25 minutes for an emergency vehicle to attend to the 46-year-old father of four who died from Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) in Naas on May 19th.

He died near a garda station and was twice resuscitated.

The National Ambulance Service Representative Association had claimed there was a delay because only one ambulance was on call for north Kildare and it was attending another call out.

Michael Dixon of the National Ambulance Service Representative Association spoke to KFM.

"Well the main instruction at the moment is all about cost-saving; it's all about saving money, it's not about saving lives anymore. I dread to say that - but that's the exact way we're looking at the moment" he said.

"If you don't replace a member of staff on an ambulance service resource, then obviously you're going to be putting the public...at risk" he added.

However in a statement the HSE says an ambulance was dispatched immediately and arrived at the scene on the ring-road between Naas and Newbridge within 16 minutes. They also say a second ambulance crewed by an Advanced Paramedic was also dispatched arriving within 19 minutes.