Donegal-Dublin air route under ‘weekly review’ amid cancer treatment fears

By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

An air route between Dublin and Donegal will be kept under “weekly review”, the Transport Minister has said, amid concern about impacts on cancer treatments.

Donegal Cancer Flights and Services has expressed concern that changes to the Public Service Obligation (PSO) route will cut off a “medical lifeline” and “genuine same-day access” for cancer patients and others.

The group helps cancer patients with booking flights, counselling support and other information.

The route currently operates most days with morning and afternoon departures from Donegal, and lunchtime and evening return flights from Dublin.

The current PSO contract is due to expire on February 25 and it is believed it will be replaced with an earlier first round-trip starting from Dublin and a much later evening service both ways.

I see the people coming in, I see how financially stretched they are and it is very heavy on the heart.Mary Coyle, Donegal Cancer Flights and Services

Donegal Cancer Flights and Services had sought a meeting with Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, O’Brien committed to meeting representatives from Donegal Cancer Flights and Services but said he could not engage with them on Wednesday as he will be in London.

He said there had to be independent public procurement processes and added that he wants to ensure that flights continue beyond the end of the existing contract.

“We need to execute this so that people can book flights from February 25.

“The department has assured me it will be kept under weekly review with a three-month review to it.”

O’Brien said he had personally questioned whether flights used by those using cancer services would continue.

“In relation to those who are accessing cancer services here in Dublin, I think the morning and evening flights – and I’ve asked those questions myself – will ensure that that service continues.

“We’ve got to make sure that there’s connectivity between it.”

Donegal Cancer Flights and Services organiser Mary Coyle welcomed efforts to ensure flights continue beyond February 25th, but urged Mr O’Brien to “meet people on the ground” in Donegal who rely on the flights for their medical treatments.

She told the Press Association: “I would invite him to come to Donegal to see first-hand what it is like up here, how rural it is, and have an idea of how this will impact them.”

A Department of Transport official will meet the group on Wednesday in O’Brien’s absence.

Coyle predicted that the proposed earlier flight from the capital would be “empty”.

She explained how the group has been working with the Irish Cancer Society and Dublin oncology departments to arrange transport to morning appointments for patients who could be at risk.

She also said that the changed timetable may leave no seats available at short notice – and drive up the price of tickets.

“A lot of these people, we would organise assistance for them because they’re ill.

“So they would have to navigate their way to a taxi and find accommodation for the night.

“This is people who are not working, or pensioners that already are stretched for money – so it’s not viable, it doesn’t make sense.”

Coyle added: “I see the people coming in, I see how financially stretched they are and it is very heavy on the heart.

“Then you have people in Dublin making decisions that have no idea what it’s like living in Donegal.”