The HSE has spent close to €100m ferrying patients to and from hospitals over the past three-and-a-half years, the Sunday Tribune has learned.

Patient taxi bills have come to €99,183,831, prompting opposition parties to demand the HSE review, "as a matter of urgency", ways to cut this massive expenditure.

There have also been calls for ambulance fleets throughout the county to be immediately expanded to replace taxis.

The figures were released to this newspaper under the Freedom of Information Act and cover patient taxi costs in 2005, 2006, 2007 and the first six months of 2008.

Some €24,065,813 was spent in 2005; €28,291,281 in 2006; €31,537,781 in 2007; and €15,288,956 in the first six month of this year.

The biggest user of taxis was the HSE Northern Area, with costs of almost €33m. HSE Southern Area spent just under €28m while the Western Area spent almost €15m. The HSE in the midlands and along the east coast each spent almost €12m on private transport.

The bill includes transporting older people to day hospitals, learning-disabled clients to workshops and patients to outpatient appointments.

"The enormity of the money suggests taxis are being used inappropriately. It's the most expensive way to transport patients," said Labour Party health spokeswoman Jan O'Sullivan.

"There needs to be an immediate rigorous examination of why taxis are being used by the HSE. Surely there are less expensive options in some cases. Ambulances would surely be a cheaper option when taking outpatients to hospital. In this economic climate, we cannot just waste money."