Transport Service
We provide transport and limited financial grants (Travel2Care) for those in need who are in cancer treatment.
What transport is available?
Transport is available to patients having chemotherapy treatments in our partner hospitals who are having difficulty getting to and from their local appointments. This service is completely free of charge.
Our Transport Service is a volunteer led. The Irish Cancer Society recruits and trains volunteers who can bring patients to and from their chemotherapy treatments in our partner hospitals.
We have recently opened a pilot service for patients having radiotherapy treatment at University Hospital Cork and Bons Secours Hospital, Cork.
In 2024, our Transport Service supported over 2,500 people travel to 26,500 appointments.
What can access transport?
To avail of the adult Transport Service, you will need to be referred by your healthcare professional (either a social worker or an oncology nurse). You will also need to attend one of our partner hospitals (see below).
Your healthcare professional will discuss with you whether the service is suitable for your needs. Unfortunately, the Transport Service isn't suitable for everyone.
Who are the transport partner hospitals?
- Cavan General Hospital, Cavan, Co Cavan
- Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Co. Cork
- The Mercy Hospital, Grenville Place, Cork
- The Bon Secours Hospital, Cork
- South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital
- Beaumont Hospital, Beaumont Road, Dublin 9
- St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4
- St. James' Hospital, James' Street, Dublin 8
- Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Eccles St. Dublin 7
- Tallaght University Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin 24
- Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15
- Community Intervention Team, Anam Cara, St Canice’s Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 11 (Outreach centre for The Mater and Beaumont Hospital)
- The Hermitage, Lucan
- St Vincent's Private Hospital
- The Mater Private Hospital
- Letterkenny General Hospital, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
- Donegal Cancer Flights & Services, Ionad Naomh Pádraig, Upper Dore, Bunbeg, Letterkenny, Donegal
- Merlin Park University Hospital, Merlin Park, Galway
- Galway University Hospital, Newcastle Road, Galway (as well as our chemotherapy transport service, we offer a boundaried radiotherapy transport service from Donegal to Galway for patients who are staying for the full week in Inis Aoibhinn on the grounds of GUH)
- Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway
- Kerry General Hospital, Tralee, Co Kerry
- St. Luke's General Hospital, Freshford Road, Kilkenny
- University Hospital Limerick, Dooradoyle, Limerick, Co. Limerick
- Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Windmill Road, Drogheda, Co. Louth
- Mayo General Hospital, Westport Road, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
- Midlands Regional Hospital, Arden Road, Tullamore, Co. Offaly
- Sligo General Hospital, The Mall, Sligo
- South Tipperary General Hospital, Clonmel, Co Tipperary
- University Hospital Waterford, Dunmore Road, Waterford
- Wexford General Hospital, Newtown Road, Co. Wexford
How do I contact the transport team?
You can reach the Transport Service Team on (01) 231 0522 or email transport@irishcancer.ie.
If you are interested in volunteering with the Transport Service, email volunteer@irishcancer.ie and we will send you an application form.
What is the Travel2Care fund?
Travel2Care is a limited transportation assistance fund for patients who are having difficulty getting to and from their appointments for diagnostic tests or cancer treatment. Patients can apply for this fund if they travel over 50 kilometres one way to a national designated cancer centre or satellite centre. The purpose of this nationwide transportation assistance fund is to support people who have a genuine financial difficulty in meeting some of the costs of travelling to current appointments.
Travel2Care is made available by the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP).
Frequently asked questions about Travel2Care
To be eligible for Travel2Care, you must:
- Live permanently in Ireland.
- Have a genuine financial need.
- Have to travel over 50km to a designated cancer centre, approved centres or approved children’s hospital.
- Are travelling for assessment, diagnosis, surgery or active treatment at a designated cancer centre, approved satellite centre or approved children’s hospital.
- Do not qualify for other schemes, such as transport funded by the HSE or voluntary transport initiatives such as the Volunteer Driver Service. Please note that we cannot provide financial assistance towards retrospective appointments.
Travel2Care Form A is for cancer tests. You can download the form here.
Travel2Care Form B is for ongoing treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or palliative care) and is available only from a healthcare professional such as a medical social worker or your cancer nurse.
Travel2Care can only accept one application for ongoing treatment and we must have the dates of your treatment plan before we can process the application. We are not able to provide financial assistance towards appointments that have not taken place in the last month. The amount awarded will depend on the patient’s treatment plan and method of transport. Please be aware that Travel2Care is a very limited fund.
Applications take 15 working days to be processed from the date all required information has been received.
- Beaumont Hospital, Dublin
- Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin
- St James’s Hospital, Dublin
- St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin
- Cork University Hospital
- University Hospital Waterford
- Galway University Hospital
- University Hospital Limerick
- Letterkenny General Hospital (approved satellite centre), Donegal
- Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin, Dublin
- St Luke’s Hospital, Rathgar, Dublin
- Whitfield Clinic, Waterford (if you are a public patient travelling over 50kms for radiotherapy treatment)
- Altnagelvin Area Hospital, Derry
- Tallaght University Hospital
- South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital
- The Mercy University Hospital
You can phone the Travel2Care team on 01 2310 522 or email financialsupport@irishcancer.ie
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