Hopes have increased that the south-east will secure a radiotherapy unit for cancer patients following the Taoiseach's visit to Waterford last Friday.
Mr Ahern spent nearly an hour with representatives of the South East Cancer Foundation (SECF), including consultants from Waterford Regional Hospital, who outlined the hardship endured by patients who must travel to Dublin or Cork for treatment.
The foundation had earlier organised a protest outside Waterford Institute of Technology, where the Taoiseach opened a new library.
It disassociated itself, however, from a small group which blocked Mr Ahern's car, beat on the roof and bonnet, and jeered the Taoiseach.
An SECF spokesman said many of those present, including cancer patients and their relatives, had found the incident distressing.
A petition with 50,136 signatures calling for the installation of a rad-iotherapy unit in the south-east was later presented to Mr Ahern.
Mr Jonathan Oakes, SECF press officer, said the Taoiseach's responses had given cause for considerable hope.
"This is clearly a matter he is taking very seriously and he assured us that the views he had heard from the committee would be given full consideration before final decisions were taken."
An expert review group set up in May 2000 to examine the provision of radiotherapy services nationally is due to report shortly to the Minister for Health, Mr Martin. Mr Ahern said on Friday the Government would accept the review group's findings.
He would ensure, however, that Mr Martin made the group aware of the depth of feeling on the issue in the south-east. He told the SECF committee to contact the Minister before the end of next week, to check for progress.
About 1,000 new cancer patients are diagnosed in the south-east each year, about half of whom require radiotherapy. Nationally, however, only one in five cancer patients gets access to such treatment.
Most patients from the south-east receiving radiotherapy are treated at St Luke's Hospital in Dublin, and face a choice between spending five weeks away from home or making many round trips of about 200 miles for treatment that lasts just a few minutes.
In a submission to the expert group, the Eastern Regional Health Authority implied that the south-east did not have the population to support a radiotherapy unit. This is disputed by consultants in Waterford, who say it is not possible to offer an optimum level of care for cancer patients unless all the specialist services are provided in one location.