Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We continue our discussion of the financial statements of the National Treatment Purchase Fund. As part of this meeting, we will engage with the National Treatment Purchase Fund on its 2016 financial statements and matters related to the fair deal scheme. Earlier we heard from Nursing Homes Ireland, and the matters it raised may form part of our discussion. We are joined from the National Treatment Purchase Fund by Mr. John Horan, chairman, Mr. Liam Sloyan, chief executive, Mr. Seán Flood, finance director, and Ms Liz Lottering, audit, quality and research director. From the HSE we are joined by Mr. Michael Fitzgerald, assistant national director for older people and palliative care, and Ms Deborah Jacob from the finance division. They are all very welcome to today's meeting.

I advise witnesses that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. While we expect witnesses to answer clearly and with candour questions put to them by the committee, witnesses can and should expect to be treated fairly and with respect and consideration at all times, in accordance with the witness protocol.

Deputy Connolly has indicated as the lead speaker. Then we will proceed with the other slots.

I apologise in advance that I have a commitment and I must leave in a moment. Mr. Horan will make the opening statement. He might summarise it as best he can because of the late hour. Before he does so, I will ask him two questions, on which he can come back in writing to the committee. I am not going to take up the committee's time. I refer first to the waiting list initiative, which is detailed on page 16 of the NTPF's accounts. The NTPF has done a lot of work on orthopaedics, ear, nose and throat, ENT, general surgery, and the waiting list initiative. I ask the witnesses to come back and tell us how much of this was done in private hospitals. I understand that in the past some of it could be done in public hospitals. I ask the witnesses to give us the breakdown of this, the details of the waiting lists for these people and, to the extent that the witnesses can, because I know an average is only an average, the average cost of the treatments under orthopaedics, whether a hip, a knee or anything else, and the average cost for ENT and ophthalmic procedures on cataracts. We all know awfully old people who come to our clinics and who have no quality of life. I am sure the procedure only costs a grand or two. I do not know the figures. The witnesses need not provide the figures now, but I ask them to give us a full breakdown of how that money is spent. There is a crying demand from people who have been on waiting lists for a long time for some detailed information on this. The witnesses can get us the full breakdown in their own time and as soon as practical. We would appreciate that. If we have any further requests for information after we receive that reply, we can come back to the witnesses in writing at that stage.

Mr. Fitzgerald, who is the assistant national director for older people and palliative care, might send me, as Chairman, or the secretariat a detailed report on where we are in respect of Abbeyleix District Hospital. He has been in contact with the people there. A decision was announced years ago to close the hospital. This has not happened, it is still there, and I hope the facility can be kept in public use long into the future. All I am asking Mr. Fitzgerald is to send a detailed note by way of up-do-date information to me.

I am looking for Deputy Aylward, who was due to take over from me. Will Deputy MacSharry take over for just two minutes until Deputy Aylward comes back? I have to leave now.