Mayo Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

MURRAY CONDEMNS TRANSPORT CUTS BY HSE

Published: 3 July, 2006

Sinn Féin's general election candidate in Mayo Cllr Gerry Murray has condemned the recent transport cuts by the HSE. In a statement Cllr Murray said that even in the recessionary years of the 1980's the Country was able to sustain and maintain a proper transport services for patients attending clinics. The recent cuts have been savage in the extreme and are imposing untold hardship and stress, particularly on the elderly.

Cllr Murray said. "I am asking Minister Mary Harney, to intervene in this crisis immediately. Many of those worst affected have no private transport and no extended family that can provide transport. In trying to cope with serious illness, they also have the added stress and expense of finding their own transport to clinics in Castlebar and Galway. Many of the patients involved are in receipt of social welfare or are on very low incomes, there is no way that they can sustain paying for transport over the duration of their treatment. In recent times Bertie Ahern, Enda Kenny and Pat Rabitte have indicated that there will be no increases in taxation or borrowing over the next six years, in those circumstances they need to spell out how they propose to address the recent transport cuts by the HSE in this region."