Mr. Aaron Mullaniff:

I thank the Deputy for the question. I can certainly speak to the children portion of this. The primary eye care review set up what an integrated eye care service team should look like in the community. CHO 9, under Michelle Ford, its general manager, certainly engaged with it at a very early stage. Before I came into my role, it had a site, staff employed and a service that was up and running. I walked into that, which allowed me to make the difference I have managed. I could not have done it without that support. CHO 8 and CHO 1 have funding for positions but no one has filled them. An orthoptist is a role that someone goes through a four year degree to do. It looks particularly at eye movements and assessment of vision in children. We do not produce them in Ireland. The only way we can access them are people who are Irish and went to the UK or UK students who are willing to come here. There is a problem at this level in paediatrics. There is the willingness and the jobs ready to be filled in CHO 8 and CHO 1 but they are not filled and this is the delay in paediatrics.