Kate Walsh (Progressive Democrats)

I wish to ask the Minister for Health and Children if there are any plans to increase the number of beds for cancer care to serve the population of 100,000 in north Kildare and if consideration could be given to using some of the existing beds in the Maynooth community unit run by the South Western Area Health Board for such care since St. Brigid's hospice in the Curragh is the nearest such facility and this imposes undue hardship on patients on their families? There is no public transport from Maynooth, Kilcock and Leixlip to the hospice in the Curragh. Some kindness and consideration should be shown to those who must go to the Curragh by the provision of direct transport. At present, they must travel by taxi or must travel to Naas and then to the Curragh. Are there any plans in place in this regard?