The Ambulance Service is being compared to the "Gaza Strip", "neglected" by management and the Health Service Executive (HSE). That is according to the head of a private ambulance service which says target response times across the service are not being met because of poor regulation.

SIPTU says HIQA is due to review the Ambulance Service shortly and it wants the impact of cutbacks to be a key focus.

SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell, said "It is our understanding that HIQA will shortly be undertaking a review of the Ambulance Service’s performance in relation to a number of Key Performance Indictors (KPI)".

"Central to these is whether ‘first responders’ are responding to emergency calls within the just under eight minutes recommendation for situations classed as life-threatening. This follows reports in recent weeks of incidents where this response time was not achieved and may have led to a tragic outcome for patients".

"In order to properly review the ability of the Ambulance Service to achieve its targets in relation to these KPIs, which are based on similar targets implemented by ambulance services in Northern Ireland and Scotland, the HIQA review must also examine the resourcing of the various services" he added.

SIPTU research indicates that the approximate annual budget for the ambulance service in the Republic of Ireland is €130 million compared to €240 million in Scotland.

"The populations these services cover are approximately 4.6 million in the Republic of Ireland and 5.3 million in Scotland", SIPTU says.

The Chief Executive of Lifeline Ambulance Services - David Hall - told Breakfast here on Newstalk that the service has suffered years of under-funding and neglect.