Mr. Stephen Mulvany:

It is behind target. One of my colleagues can get the exact figures. However, the aim for the end of the year was reductions across the three different parts of the hospital waiting list. With regard to the outpatient department, the aim at the start of the year was that by the end of the year 98% of people waiting would wait for 18 months or less. After a significant effort in the second part, following Covid in the first part, we are likely to get to about 82% rather than 98%, so we are behind on that number. As I said earlier, the numbers are substantially down. That waiting list is down approximately 40% since the peak in 2021. It is not where we want to be, but progress is being made. Similarly, in terms of inpatient and day procedures, the target is for 98% to be waiting less than 12 months. We will hit approximately 83%. That waiting list is down approximately 40% since the peak, so it is not where we want to be, but progress is being made. On the final part, we will more or less hit the target. The scopes target is that the 98% of people would wait less than 12 months. We should hit approximately 97%. That is also substantially down since the peak. Substantial progress has been made but we are definitely not where we would like to be. Most of these are well down on the peak, and, in some cases, are getting back to where they were pre-Covid. We then need to drive on and the targets next year will be more difficult because we are trying to get towards the Sláintecare targets, which are much more difficult than those, and focus on people waiting for much shorter times.