Mr. Damien McCallion:

The team deals with issues around access and waiting lists at each site daily. The chief executive and clinical director at each site are responsible for, as the Deputy described, maximising the resources that are there to ensure they deliver. We have this year provided significant additional funding to support that extra activity. That funding is a 12% increase on last year's equivalent. To speak to the points made by Deputies Shortall and Burke, we know there is still work to do.

Alongside that is a programme under Dr. Colm Henry which is looking at theatre rationalisation and usage. It is using lean techniques to consider how we can maximise the flow through.