The HSE has spent almost 90 million euro on taxis since 2012.

Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show the executive has spent almost 16 million on taxi services this year alone.

The figures show a massive spend by the Executive - with two taxi companies getting paid more than a million euro each for journeys made this year alone.

In total 37 companies have been paid more than 100 thousand euro by the HSE in 2016.

The Executive has defended the spend - saying it's more cost-effective than buying their own fleet of cars to transport patients who are not acutely ill.