Michael Collins urges extra funding for Cancer Connect in Cork
Michael Collins raised the financing needs of Teashock Cancer Connect, the Cork County cancer transport service, and asked whether the requested increase could be included in the 2025 budget. He outlined that the service is run by 430 volunteer drivers, recorded between 6,000 and 7,000 passenger journeys in 2023 and 2024, and faces an annual funding shortfall up to 100,000 beyond an existing 50,000 commitment.
The speaker described Teashock Cancer Connect as a hugely successful cancer transport service operating throughout Cork County and delivered on the ground by a team of 430 volunteer drivers using several vehicles.
The transcript states that the service recorded between 6,000 and 7,000 passenger journeys in 2023 and 2024, and that the transport has extensive impact on the lives of patients and the extended community during a cancer journey.
Michael Collins highlighted that Cancer Connect has moved beyond surviving solely on community donations and said the organisation is struggling to budget for 2025 without guaranteed income. He asked whether the annual budget requirement of up to 100,000 could be achieved in the next budget, noting the Department of Health previously committed 50,000 last October.
In reply, the minister acknowledged the original 50,000 allocation as part of wider financial support to cancer centres across the country, praised the work of Cancer Connect and noted significant expenditure pressures in the Department of Health. The minister said he would look at the situation and see what could be done for Cancer Connect and other similar bodies.
The exchange closed with a commitment to review the request ahead of the 2025 budget. The transcript records both recognition of the service’s role in Cork and uncertainty about the final budget outcome, leaving the funding question open pending departmental decisions.
Service scale and volunteers
The speaker described Teashock Cancer Connect as a hugely successful cancer transport service operating throughout Cork County and delivered on the ground by a team of 430 volunteer drivers using several vehicles.
Usage and impact
The transcript states that the service recorded between 6,000 and 7,000 passenger journeys in 2023 and 2024, and that the transport has extensive impact on the lives of patients and the extended community during a cancer journey.
Funding shortfall and request
Michael Collins highlighted that Cancer Connect has moved beyond surviving solely on community donations and said the organisation is struggling to budget for 2025 without guaranteed income. He asked whether the annual budget requirement of up to 100,000 could be achieved in the next budget, noting the Department of Health previously committed 50,000 last October.
Government response and broader support
In reply, the minister acknowledged the original 50,000 allocation as part of wider financial support to cancer centres across the country, praised the work of Cancer Connect and noted significant expenditure pressures in the Department of Health. The minister said he would look at the situation and see what could be done for Cancer Connect and other similar bodies.
Next steps and implications
The exchange closed with a commitment to review the request ahead of the 2025 budget. The transcript records both recognition of the service’s role in Cork and uncertainty about the final budget outcome, leaving the funding question open pending departmental decisions.
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Transcript
Michael Collins. Michael Collins, Thank you. Teashock Cancer Connect, the hugely successful cancer transport service, is available throughout Cork County and is delivered on the ground by a team of 430 volunteer drivers of several vehicles. 2023 and 2024 alone saw between 6,000 and 7,000 passenger journeys recorded. The impact that this transport has on the lives it does on a cancer journey and the extended community is extensive. Cancer Connect has gone beyond the realm of surviving on community donations. The company is now struggling to budget for 2025 efficiently without any guaranteed income secured. The Department of Health made a commitment last October to fund Cancer Connect up to 50,000, which was greatly received. But to deliver on this ever-growing service, Cancer Connect will need an annual budget of up to 100,000. Teashock, can this be achieved in the next budget? Thank you. I was there on the day we announced the 50,000, which was warmly welcomed by your good self and everybody else. Fair play to you. You doubled your bet now in terms of the request. The first time ever it has been a response of this kind came from government and it was as part of a wider financial support service allocated to cancer centres across the country. But yes, Cancer Connect does extraordinary work around the entirety of the county of Cork where it brings patients to services. Look, the Minister for Health has a lot of pressure in terms of the expenditure demands. But I'm not out there when the Minister comes to look at the situation, we'll see what we can do in terms of Cancer Connect and indeed the other bodies as well. Thank you, Teashock.