Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Cancer patients in the south east who must travel to Dublin for radiotherapy treatment have the worst transport options in the whole country. While taxis and ambulances are laid on in other parts of the country, and rightly so, patients in the south east are expected to make their own way to the nearest hospital before travelling to Dublin, or else make their own way to Dublin.

In August 2004, the South Eastern Health Board admitted to the national radiation-oncology co-ordinating group that, unlike other health boards, there was no structured dedicated system in place in the south east. In Waterford, efforts are made to accommodate patients using public transport. Obviously this is not suitable in trying to make appointments at acceptable times. Most patients in Waterford travel with their family in a private car. In Wexford, a mini bus leaves the general hospital at 8 a.m. each day but patients must make their own way to the hospital. In Kilkenny, a mini bus leaves for St. Luke's Hospital at 7.30 a.m. each morning and will only collect patients in exceptional circumstances.

The Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, has repeatedly referred to the Health Service Executive's dedicated transport arrangements for cancer patients. However, this is certainly not the case in the south east. When will the Minister match her words with actions and how long more will seriously ill people have to put up with the current ad hoc system?

The provision of a public radiotherapy facility in Waterford Regional Hospital, as promised by the Government parties before the last general election, is the ultimate solution to the problem. The Minister had talks recently with consultants regarding a public private partnership to provide a dedicated cancer facility, including a radiotherapy facility, on the grounds of Waterford Regional Hospital. Will the Minister of State indicate when a decision will be made on this matter? Time is of the essence. It would take some years before the radiotherapy facility would be up and running. In the meantime, more and more people must endure the pain and suffering involved in travelling to Dublin for a service that should be delivered in the south-east.