John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 196: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the proposals she has received from the Health Service Executive to provide a dedicated transport service to Dublin and Cork hospitals for cancer patients in Waterford and elsewhere in the south east; her views on whether patients in the south east have a justified expectation that the Government provide such a service pending the availability of radiotherapy services in the south east, which is some years away; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6061/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The national service plan 2006 of the Health Service Executive provides a commitment to develop proposals to support patients who have to travel long distances to access specialist services, with particular focus in 2006 on those travelling for radiotherapy treatment. I approved this plan in December and it was laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas last month. I made available an additional €9 million to the executive for developments in cancer services in 2006, inter alia, to facilitate better access to radiation oncology services, including dedicated transport arrangements.

The Deputy's question also relates to the management and delivery of health and personal, social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.