John Crown (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for not being here earlier. Today's parliamentary schedule required me to be in the Seanad Chamber to advance a piece of legislation. I wish to ask Mr. Keegan a question that he may have answered already. My colleagues on the committee will think I sound like a broken record because I ask a similar question of every expert we have in. The answer is always pretty much the same. When we are trying to persuade those who have some influence in the halls of Government to do something, it is useful to ensure they understand the scope of the problem. How many consultant adult and paediatric ophthalmologists do we have in Ireland? What is the ratio per head of population? How do we compare with the figures in the UK and elsewhere in western Europe? What is the approximate length of time one spends on the waiting list from the time one's GP decides one needs to see an ophthalmologist until one has an initial consultation? If one is put on the waiting list for some form of surgical intervention, how long will one have to spend on it?