Cancer Care West is getting a new bus to transport cancer patients to and from their designated treatments.
The provision of the 25 seat bus comes from €100,000 in funding under the latest round of grants from the CLÁR programme.
Cancer Care West was one of 27 groups in Ireland to receive funding for Mobility and Cancer Care Transports under Measure 4 of the CLÁR programme.
Galway East TD Sean Canney said dealing with cancer is stressful enough without having to worry about how you’ll get to and from your treatments.
“Transport to and from treatment is a significant problem for cancer patients and their families and the provision of funding to groups such as Cancer Care West for transport is a common sense provision,” he said.
Cancer Care West is a voluntary organisation based out Inis Aoibheann at University Hospital Galway.
This charity provides support services for cancer patients and their families as they deal with
Forum Connemara also received just under €54,000 in the latest round of CLÁR grants to purchase a 15 seater, wheelchair accessible vehicle.
Almost €1.4 million in grant money was announced for care groups around Ireland by Minister for Rural and Community Development Michael Ring this week.
As well as cancer care, the funding will help community groups transport people with mobility issues to day-care or other medical, therapeutic or respite services.
The scheme allows for the purchase our outfitting of a vehicle to transport people for medical services.
Up to €50,000 is available for a wheelchair accessible vehicle, or €100,000 for a bus.
Minister Ring said: “The difference which the provision of these vehicles will make to the lives of families in remote rural areas who have to attend day care or medical services is incalculable.”
“Having access to a wheelchair accessible vehicle in your area can mean the difference between being able to avail of day care, respite and other services, or being confined to home. It’s as simple as that.”
CLÁR provides funding for small scale projects in areas that have seen population decline.
The goal of the programme is to make these areas more attractive for people to live and work in, and support rural communities.
Funding from CLÁR goes to local community groups who prepare and implement the projects.
“The people who run these voluntary organisations do heroic work on behalf of the most vulnerable people in their community.,” said Minister Ring.
“Very often those involved with these groups have a family member who is unwell or living with disability. This investment will greatly benefit some of the more vulnerable members of our community and those who care for them.”
