James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I certainly agree with my colleague Deputy Naughten in regard to transportation or forcing people to travel without providing transport. It is not wise or cost effective to transport patients to have treatments that could and should be available in the local hospitals. This is certainly an area we are examining very closely. As I said to Deputy Ó Caoláin in respect of Monaghan hospital, many more facilities and treatments could be provided at the hospitals in question; they are being under-utilised. They not only could, but will, be a key part of our drive to address the waiting times many citizens must endure before obtaining the treatment they have been recommended.

See this speech in context