The Minister of State is very welcome to the House this afternoon and I thank him for being here. The Crocus Cancer Support Centre in Monaghan is our local cancer support group and operates two free volunteer-driven vehicles, known as the "Crocus cruisers", to exclusively transport local cancer patients to and from their hospital appointments. Last year, it was delighted to receive €37,000 from the Department of Transport, which enabled it to purchase that second vehicle. The service removes travel-related stress and is entirely free for the membership. The Crocus peer support group helps those living with cancer diagnoses who are at different stages of their journeys with all sorts of therapies, counselling, and even the chat. The cars boost Crocus's ability to help local patents by providing transport to appointments and therapies. The volunteer drivers pick up patients either directly from their homes or from the Crocus centre in Monaghan town and transport them to hospital appointments, which are typically in Dublin and Cavan. The service is available completely free of charge to any Crocus members requiring transportation to cancer-related treatments and appointments. Vehicles used exclusively for the transport of cancer patients are typically operated by charities such as Crocus and involve volunteer drivers who transport patients to and from their appointments, and we are deeply indebted to them all. The drivers' fuel and travel-related costs are also covered by the organisation. Vehicles range from custom wheelchair accessible minibuses to standard cars, ensuring that vulnerable patients safely reach critical treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy without financial or geographical barriers. They provide secure, confidential, one-to-one transport for patients who may feel very vulnerable and anxious in regard to travelling at that difficult time for them. Crocus is just one of many support groups across the country that are doing this invaluable work and we are deeply indebted to them all.

Similarly, Blood Bikes provides a crucial service to hospitals, medical centres, nursing homes and GPs across Ireland by delivering and retrieving urgent medical essentials, including whole blood, plasma, fresh milk, and many other critical items. Its rapid transport solutions fulfil individual patient requirements quickly and play a vital role in life-saving efforts. Their skilled volunteers are trained to the highest standards and equipped with the best technology to ensure swift and sure delivery or pickups.

These services are vital and that is why it is such a pity that charities have to raise funds to pay for road tax on these vehicles that provide such essential services. It would not be unreasonable that these fees for road tax should be waived for these particular organisations. We are deeply indebted to these volunteers, who do such great work, and I feel that it would be a little "Thank you" to those organisations if the State was able to pick up the fee for road tax. I look forward to the Minister of State's response.

I acknowledge and thank the Senator for raising what is an extremely important issue. At the outset, the Minister wishes to acknowledge the importance of vehicles used for the transport of cancer patients and of blood bike groups that use vehicles to rapidly transport medical and clinical items to and from healthcare facilities. This voluntary service reduces demand on alternative transport methods and plays an important role in supporting the healthcare system. On 28 April this year, the Minister granted approval of Blood Bikes Medical Transport to use the bus lane network while carrying out its service. This enables it to bypass traffic congestion and reduce transit times for collections and deliveries. That is a very positive development.

The collection of motor tax is administered by the Minister for Transport through the online motor tax system and by local authorities through motor tax offices. Motor tax is a budgetary matter and, as such, primary responsibility lies with the Minister for Finance. Therefore, consultation would be required with the Department of Finance on this subject. Current motor tax exemptions have been introduced in legislation over time and are provided for in the Finance (Excise Duties) (Vehicles) Act 1952. Motor tax exemptions are currently applied to the following vehicles: State-owned vehicles; diplomatic vehicles; vehicles exempted under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Regulations 1994; vehicles including any cycle with an attachment for propelling it by mechanical power, not exceeding 400 kg in weight unladen adapted and used for invalids; vehicles used exclusively for the transport, whether by carriage or traction, of lifeboats and their gear, or any equipment for affording assistance towards the preservation of life and property in cases of shipwreck and distress at sea; vehicles which are used exclusively for mountain and cave rescue purposes; vehicles which are used exclusively for the transport of road construction machinery which is built in as part of such vehicle or otherwise permanently attached thereto, carries no load except articles or materials used for the purpose of the construction or repair of roads; ambulances, road rollers and fire engines; and vehicles kept by a local authority and used exclusively for the purpose of their fire brigade service.

At present, blood bikes or vehicles used exclusively for the transport of cancer patients are not subject to this exemption. Any proposal to introduce a motor tax exemption for blood bikes must be assessed in the context of the broader taxation and regulatory framework, taking account of legislative changes required, administrative arrangements and the impact on the receipts to the Exchequer in consultation with the Minister for Finance. Consideration must also be given to issues such as eligibility criteria, administrative and operational implementation, and the potential implications for other voluntary organisations that may seek similar treatment. The proposal the Senator has brought forward would require further consideration and analysis.

Before I call the Senator, I welcome Deputy John Connolly and his guests, who are pupils and staff of Eagles Nest National School, Renvyle, County Galway. They are very welcome and I hope they enjoy their visit. I know they are near their holiday, but it is customary here to make sure they have no homework for the rest of the week. I hope they enjoy their holidays when they come at the end of the week.

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. I fully appreciate that this is a matter for the Minister for Finance, but where would we in this country be without volunteers? Organisations such as the Crocus Cancer Support Centre in Monaghan and blood bikes do fantastic and invaluable work. All the work they do is done by volunteers. If the Government were to introduce a road tax exemption for those vehicles, it would be a small token of appreciation on behalf of the State for the excellent work they do. I sincerely hope the Minister for Finance will take this on board in his deliberations when he is considering his budget, which will be delivered in October this year.

I am taking this matter for the Minister for Transport, but, fortunately for the Senator, I am a Minister of State in the Department of Finance and this is a matter for that Department.

The Senator makes a very valid point about where we would be as a society if we were bereft of volunteerism right across the board, be it in sport or in healthcare provision such as this.

One of the lines of the pre-prepared script that was given was on the costs associated with implementing this measure but what I would like to look at are the cost savings to the health service of this voluntary group providing the service. If we look at that and equate it with the potential costs, I would be somewhat surprised if there is not an overall saving. On that basis, I will take back what the Senator has raised to the Department of Finance and ask the officials to see whether they can quantify the number of vehicles that are in use by that service and what the cost would be, what the cost would be to the HSE if those people were not providing that service, and whether we can expand the exemptions. Honestly, though, it is not in my gift. It is for the senior Minister, in consultation at a wider Government level. However, let us first get costings in real terms for the implementation of the change but also what this valuable organisation is saving the health service.

It would be remiss of me if I did not take the opportunity to congratulate Senator Gallagher on Monaghan's win over the weekend. Unfortunately, it was at the expense of Westmeath and put us into misery after what was a fabulous year. Even though Monaghan has done that to us, I will take on board what the Senator said here today and see can we get a solution for him.