DONEGAL cancer care campaigners fighting to restore the Public Service Obligation (PSO) flights between Donegal and Dublin have secured a meeting with the minister for transport.
The delegation from Donegal Cancer Flights and Services will meet with Minister Darragh O’Brien in Leinster House next Tuesday afternoon.
The vital service from Donegal Airport in Carrickfinn has been hailed as a lifeline for patients availing of cancer treatment in Dublin, enabling them to fly to hospital and return home on the same day.
Last week Minister O’Brien confirmed in a shock announcement that the Department had proceeded with a new contract for the Donegal to Dublin flights.
The new PSO contract removes afternoon flights in favour of a new schedule. Under the new schedule, the midday flights will no longer be provided, replaced instead by a 6.30am flight arriving from Dublin and an 8.30pm flight leaving Donegal.
The group of campaigners have gained thousands of signatures on an online petition which they launched in response to the changes to the vital service, with physical petitions also cropping up in shops and businesses across west Donegal.
The group also gathered signatures at O’Donnell Park at the weekend ahead of kick off in Donegal’s match against Mayo.
Meanwhile, Donegal Airport is assessing legal advice following the Department’s decision. Its Chairman, Garry Martin, said the new contract “does not meet the needs of the passengers using the service, nor does it maximise connectivity to the region”.
He added: “On the face of it, it appears that it favours the requirements of the airline, to maximise income and profitability, at the expense of customers service and at the cost to the taxpayer.”
