Ivan Yates
Ceist:119 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Health if travel expenses are being paid to any HIV or AIDS patients attending health board drug treatment centres by the health boards or the Department of Social Welfare.
Written Answers. - Patients Travel Expenses.
Brendan Howlin
Ceist:121 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will give consideration to funding a free bus pass system for HIV/AIDS sufferers who are in attendance at the Drug Advisory and Treatment Centre in Pearse Street, Dublin 2 and who are dependent on social welfare payments.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 121 together.
I outlined the position regarding transport arrangements for patients on the 5 December last (Official Report, Volume 394, column 144) and that position has not altered since.
In so far as the transport of HIV/AIDS patients to the Drug Advisory and Treatment Centre in Pearse Street, Dublin, or other treatment centres is concerned, this is a matter for each health board in the first instance.
As I pointed out in my reply last December, if there are cases where hardship is involved in patients attending treatment centres such cases should be referred for consideration to the chief executive officer of the health board in which the patient resides.