Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It definitely would, for north Clare and west Clare specifically because of the geography and the distance patients have to travel. Most often, the treatment requires three trips per week so it is a significant stress on my constituents. For those who cannot drive or do not have access to their own transport, it is a significant distress that they face on a weekly basis. That is something they do not want to face when they are already dealing with a healthcare issue. I know the Minister appreciates that. He has stated that the funding was not made available in the budget and it was not flagged last September. I would be interested if he could provide a little bit more detail as to what may have occurred. People being forced to work out how they are going to travel is an undue distress. Huge amounts are also being spent on transporting patients throughout the mid-west. For example, in 2021, €1.6 million spent.

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