Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There are 3.3 million outpatient appointments every single year. We are doing more in the health service every year. Our population over the age of 65 is growing. Our birth rate is growing. The complexity of cases is growing. More and more people are now being seen quicker in many aspects in respect of many of our waiting lists, but we do have real pinch points in outpatients. I do not believe that a ball of money will fix that. It might help but doing more through general practice, primary care and the Sláintecare reorientation is the only way we will do it. I welcome the fact that we now publish outpatient waiting lists so the Deputy can ask me questions about it, which Opposition spokespeople were not able to do in the past.