Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am sharing time with Deputy Danny Healy-Rae. I want to begin by commending the Irish Cancer Society on the fantastic work it does all year round, every year. I deal with many families whose loved ones have received a shock diagnosis. I commend the Irish Cancer Society on the information it provides and on the dedicated nurse line which deserves a special mention this morning. It is very professional. Without it, we would be at a loss in our constituency offices regarding where to direct patients and families.

Cancer always comes with a cost, be it emotional, psychological or financial. The degree of that cost and the impact it has on individuals and families is something we in this House can all do something about. I have been raising the issue of eliminating hospital car parking fees for cancer patients for a number of years. Last September, I engaged with the Ministers for Health and Public Expenditure and Reform as part of my efforts to have public hospital car parking charges for cancer patients abolished. This followed a meeting I had in my constituency with a representative of the Irish Cancer Society, Siobhan Hayes, who is based in County Laois. The society has been advocating for the provision of €5 million to public hospitals to reduce the cost of car parking charges for cancer patients. It is also calling for a reduction in the drugs payment scheme cap to a maximum payment of €100 a month, and a maximum payment of €72 a month for single-headed households. Those changes need to be taken on board. It was very clear to me following my meeting with the Irish Cancer Society that the stress and challenges created by car parking fees have to be tackled once and for all. It is very doable and we should all endeavour to resolve it.

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