Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Ms Rogers and Professor Hardiman. I acknowledge the campaigning work of the Neurological Alliance of Ireland. All Oireachtas Members received copious emails before Christmas and since from its members and other people advocating on behalf of family members and loved ones, with some success. That has to be acknowledged.

Ms Rogers mentioned that outpatient lists are now approaching a 50% increase since 2015. This might be an obvious question but, leaving Covid aside, why has that happened? Is it retiring staff who have not been replaced? Is it increased referrals or diagnoses? Is it increased patient life expectancy, repeat consultation visits or a loss of graduate nurses? Is it a combination of everything?