A local TD has urged the Taoiseach not to leave patients in Leitrim stranded without transport.
Speaking in the Dáil, Independent TD Marian Harkin told Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that the Leitrim Community Car Scheme is closing due to a lack of funding.
She said the scheme has so far saved the State over €111,000 in hospital and health transport.
Deputy Harkin told the Taoiseach that €20,000 per year was the amount needed to run the scheme for one year. A fee, she said, which represented extraordinary value for money.
The Independent TD for Sligo-Leitrim said she had raised this issue a number of times with the previous Taoiseach, the HSE, and Minister Heather Humphreys, but to little avail.
She praised both Leitrim Volunteer Centre and volunteer drivers, but said calls were being received every day from individuals, nursing homes and local hospitals requesting transport.
Deputy Harkin called on the Taoiseach to either fund the scheme or immediately introduce a pilot Community Car Scheme similar to one run by Fingal County Council in Dublin.
