Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Cancer Connect is a free service for patients who travel by bus or car to Cork hospital, including people requiring radiotherapy, chemotherapy and related cancer treatments. The service started in 2011 and now covers all of Cork county with 430 voluntary drivers. Cancer Connect is about to mark its 13th anniversary, recording over 50,000 passenger journeys to date. The company is fully reliant on community donations, which is unfeasible. It is struggling to budget for 2024 effectively without an income secured. It needs €100,000 per annum from Government, which will represent 40% of expenditure. It is still committed to recouping the remaining 60%. The Minister, Deputy Donnelly, announced €3 million in funding to community cancer support centres in November. We have continuous promises in west Cork from a TD but will the Taoiseach tell us how much community cancer support funding Cancer Connect will receive?

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