Mr. Aaron Mullaniff:

We might encounter that situation once a week, where a guy goes to work, possibly the same age as myself, is working on a construction site, married with two children, and does not plan on being blinded on that day. In the context of the eye and ear hospital, which sees the most patients and has a significant accident and emergency function, you would be triaged and be seen because it is an emergency. With support coming from the acute hospitals division, we have been in a position to imbed an eye clinic liaison officer in there. This is an interesting finding. Until two years ago, it was taking three and a half years from point of diagnosis to referral through to Vision Ireland services. We have that down to three weeks right now because we have embedded our services. To add to the individual case the Cathaoirleach pointed out, we have a dedicated team - the employment team - who would work with that individual and his employer; support his family; provide counselling and emotional support; provide mobility training to support him to get back up on his feet and get safely from A to B; and provide him with independent living skills and all the adaptions that he would need in his life to remain independent and participating in the workforce.