John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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396. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding travel arrangements in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [38286/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Cancer services have been reorganised in line with best practice to ensure that patients are treated in locations that have the expertise, multi-disciplinary specialist skills and case volume to provide optimum treatment. Oesophageal cancer is treated in four approved centres designated by the HSE-National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) for the treatment of this highly complex condition.

The NCCP established a Travel2Care scheme which provides financial support for those travelling to designated cancer centres or approved satellite centre and this scheme is administered by the Irish Cancer Society. The scheme supports people who have a genuine financial difficulty in meeting some of the costs of travelling to current appointments.

In relation to travel arrangements for the individual concerned, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.