Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

In Waterford, the Whitfield Clinic, a private hospital which will hopefully open at the end of next year, will provide radiotherapy. We want to know what is the situation with regard to funding of public patients in that hospital. How will the Government fund public patients with regard to radiotherapy? The Whitfield Clinic is a private facility but it is willing to provide services to the public. However, the issue is whether the Government will pay for those services.

There is talk of another private hospital being built on the grounds of Waterford Regional Hospital to provide similar services, but that is a long way off.

Will the Minister of State indicate Government thinking on funding for public patients? People continue to travel from the south east to Dublin. As there is no dedicated transport service for these patients, they have to find their own way to the city. The situation is different in Dublin and surrounding areas, where taxis and ambulances are provided. The people of the south east are being treated as second-class citizens in this regard.