Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)

I ask the Leader to invite the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children to explain to the House the diabolical decision taken by the HSE western area not to grant free ambulance transport services to people who do not hold medical cards. This is vital to those on dialysis and is not available through private health insurance. Removing the transport facility to those who do not hold medical cards is punishing rural patients, most of whom must travel over 500 miles per week. This affects very weak people, oncology patients, transplant patients and acute lower limb patients without medical cards. I ask the Tánaiste to reverse this draconian decision immediately. My father was on dialysis until he died three years ago and the transport service was of great assistance to families. We are told that the country is awash with money. For this reason the decision should be reversed.