Mr. Robert Watt:

I thank the Deputy for her questions. The challenge within the health system, as we all know, is that there are increasing demands every year on foot of demographic change, primarily, technological change, and the greater availability of procedures and options for people to improve their health and well-being. Our role in the Department, along with our colleagues in the HSE, is to improve the services, and that is what we are trying to do.

I contend, and we can discuss it this morning, that very significant improvements in services are taking place this year. On waiting lists, it is proposed there will be more activity in this area than we have ever had where funding has been allocated. The hope and expectation is that we will start to see waiting lists coming down, notwithstanding the difficulties caused by Covid-19 in the first quarter of the year.

Our job is to work with the Minister in driving change and reform within the health system.

That is what I and my colleagues do daily.