The Health Service Executive is spending an average of €700,000 every week on taxis and private ambulances.
Figures obtained by RTÉ News under the Freedom of Information Act show that over €70m was spent on these services in 2006 and 2007.
Taxis and private ambulance services are used by the HSE to bring patients to and from hospitals all over the country every day.
Last year, €5.6m was spent on private ambulances, and €31.3m was spent on taxis.
The HSE West spent the most on private ambulances - €2.2m - while the HSE's North East area spent the largest amount on taxis, €5m.
Four private ambulance services are used by the HSE. €2.4m was the largest amount paid to a single operator, and that was paid to the Lifeline ambulance service based in Leixlip, Co Kildare.
In 2006, over €4.2m was spent on private ambulances, while €28.6m was spent on taxis.
