Achainí Ar Líne: Cosain Eitiltí Ailse Dhún na nGall – Caithfear Rochtain Lae Amháin a Chinntiú

Chuig:  An tAire Iompair, Rialtas na hÉireann

Seirbhís Aeir PSO Dhún na nGall-Bhaile Átha Cliath a chosaint d'othair ailse agus do thaisteal riachtanach leighis

Tá muidinne a bhfuil ár n-ainm sínithe thíos, ar iarraidh ar an Aire seirbhís aeir PSO Dhún na nGall-Baile Átha Cliath a chosaint agus a ráthú ionas go leanann sé ar aghaidh ag soláthar taistil fillte an lae céanna, go háirithe d’othair ailse agus do othar le coinní riachtanacha leighis.

Ní só-bhealach é an seirbhís seo, is bealach tarrthála é.  Tá sé maoinithe mar PSO mar go bhfuil Dún na nGall scoite amach ó thaobh na tíreolaíochta de agus nach bhfuil seirbhís iompair sásúil eile ann.  Tá cur síos déanta ag an Roinn Iompair ar an tseirbhís mar a leanas: “seirbhísí aeir dhá bhealach a sholáthar dhá uair sa lá ag éascú turais fillte ó Dhún na nGall ar an lá céanna.”  Is é sin an caighdeán a chaithfidh an t-amchlár a chomhlíonadh.

Tá an baol ann go bhfágfadh na hathruithe atá beartaithe ar an amchlár, go mbeidh taisteal leighis ar an lae céanna neamhphraiticiúil, go gcuirfí iallach ar othair fanacht thar oíche, ualach maidir le costas breise, gan trácht ar uallach brú breise nach bhfuil gá leis, PSO páipéar amháin, seachas PSO atá ag freastail ar an duine daonna.

Mar gheall air seo, iarann muid ar an Aire:

1.      Gealltanas i scríbhinn a chur ar fáil, gur ceanglas éigeantach, neamh-idirbheartaithe de chuid an Oibleagáide Seirbhíse Poiblí (PSO) í, fíor-rochtain leighis fillte ar an lae céanna — agus go gcaithfear aon tairiscint, bronnadh conartha nó faomhadh tráthchláir a mheasúnú i gcoinne na bunchuspóirí sin.

2.      Amanna eitilte inoibrithe a sheachadann rochtain an lae chéanna a chosaint – lena n-áirítear eitilt luath isteach go Baile Átha Cliath, filleadh mall go Dún na nGall, agus an tseirbhís reatha meán lae a choinneáil mar atá, nach mór fanacht mar pháirt lárnach den sceideal PSO.

3.      Eitilt an mheán lae ó Dhún na nGall a choinneáil agus a chosaint mar nasc riachtanach PSO — agus gealltanas nach ndéanfaidh ar shiúl leis, nó é a íosghrádú ná a aistriú taobh amuigh de choinníollacha an PSO in aon athrú conartha, athbhreithniú ar an amchlár, nó athrangú “tráchtála”.

4.      Trédhearcacht agus freagracht iomlán a chinntiú maidir leis an dóigh a moltar agus a fhaomhaítear amchláir PSO, lena n-áirítear foilsiú chritéir na Roinne, an measúnú tionchair ar rochtain leighis, agus réasúnaíocht an chinnidh, ionas nach bhfágtar othair Dhún na nGall sa dorchadas ag ag tomhas nó at tabhairt buille faoi thuairim.

Bunlíne:  Muna dtig le hothar ailse as Dún na nGall taisteal go Baile Átha Cliath fá choinne cóir leighis agus pilleadh abhaile an lá céanna, tá teipthe go hiomlán ar a chuspóir ag an PSO.

Sínithe:  Othair, teaghlaigh, oibrithe cúram sláinte, baill den phobal, agus lucht tacaíochta Eitiltí & Seirbhísí Ailse Dhún na nGall

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Online Petition: Protect Donegal Cancer Flights – Keep Same-Day Access to Dublin

To:  The Minister for Transport, Government of Ireland

We, the undersigned, call on the Minister to protect and guarantee the Donegal–Dublin PSO air service so it continues to provide genuine same-day return travel, especially for cancer patients and essential medical appointments.

This route is not a luxury, it is a lifeline.  It is funded as a PSO because Donegal is geographically isolated and not adequately served by alternative transport.  The Department of Transport has described the service as: “providing twice daily two-way air services facilitating same-day return trips from Donegal.”  That is the standard the timetable must meet.

Proposed timetable changes risk making same-day medical travel impractical, forcing patients into overnight stays, extra cost, and unnecessary strain — a PSO in name only.

We call on the Minister to:

1.      Guarantee in writing that genuine same-day return medical access is a mandatory, non-negotiable PSO requirement, and that any tender, contract award, or timetable approval must be assessed against that core purpose.

2.      Protect workable flight times that actually deliver same-day access, including early Dublin arrivals, late Donegal returns, and the retention of the current midday service, which must remain within the PSO schedule.

3.      Ring-fence the midday flight as an essential PSO connection, and guarantee it will not be removed, downgraded, or shifted outside the PSO in any contract change, timetable revision, or “commercial” reclassification.

4.      Ensure full transparency and accountability in how PSO timetables are proposed and approved, including publication of the Department’s criteria, the medical-access impact assessment, and the decision rationale, so Donegal patients are not left guessing after the fact.

Bottom line:  If a Donegal cancer patient cannot travel to Dublin for treatment and return home the same day, the PSO has failed its purpose.

Signed:  Patients, families, healthcare workers, community members, and supporters of Donegal Cancer Flights & Services