There are calls locally for the Cross-Border Healthcare Directive to be safeguarded.
Local TD Brendan Smith says the scheme has been hugely beneficial in allowing people to access treatments, particularly for hip replacements, cataracts and knee surgeries, when they weren't readily available in the Republic.
Deputy Smith says that 95% of people in Ireland who availed of the directive got their treatment in the UK or North and that failure to find an alternative agreement will particularly impact people in border counties.
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However, he is hopeful that Minister Stephen Donnelly will bring the issue to the Dáil for discussion this week:
