Mr. John Horan:

To put this is context, and without going back into ancient history, the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, working with the HSE, the Department and the hospital system, had significantly reduced the waiting lists up to the beginning of this year. In fact, in the early months of this year we had arranged surgery, procedures and scopes for more than 9,000 patients. We had arranged outpatient consultants for 8,500 patients. Then, at the end of March, because of the pandemic, non-critical care or elective care had to be postponed and this definitely had an impact on waiting lists and waiting times. Since June and this month, we have started to commission again.

In terms of where we are doing this work, whether it is private or public, probably the best indicative figure I can give the Deputy is that last year, approximately half our money was spent in public hospitals and the other half in private. We do not have a particular hang-up as to whether it is private or public. It is not an ideological position with us. Our simple view of this is whatever works best. We have worked well with our colleagues, as I say, in the HSE and in the hospital system, to get things done and we think we can help there again once we get out of the enormously difficult situation that we are currently living in.

I will ask my colleague, the chief executive, Mr. Sloyan, whether he wishes to add anything to that.