Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply. The figure to which he referred is alarming. He has stated the data are being collated in order to ensure efficiencies can be achieved and that pinch areas relating to waiting lists for outpatient appointments can be identified. It is disturbing that 360,000 people are waiting for outpatient appointments. I am not trying to pin the blame on the Minister for this. I welcome the fact that the relevant data are being collated and that resources will be allocated to address the issue. However, some 16,000 people have been waiting four years or more for outpatient appointments. It is clear, therefore, that there is a problem. It has been stated the numbers on the inpatient list are decreasing, which may be a result of the activities of the special delivery unit and further efficiencies in the system. If there is not, however, a throughput from the outpatient to the inpatient list, the numbers waiting will decrease. I am concerned that the numbers on the inpatient list are falling by virtue of the fact that outpatient assessments are being delayed. We want to reach a stage where we will know the exact numbers awaiting outpatient appointments. We also want the necessary resources to be allocated to ensure the numbers on the outpatient list will be brought down as soon as possible.

Does the Minister agree that the overriding problem facing the health service is the massive budget deficit and the huge overruns occurring in hospitals?

This was identified in the July performance report and in other reports and was highlighted on numerous occasions. Will the Minister agree that because of a lack of progress in addressing the budget deficit issues arising from as early as March 2012 there could be significant cutbacks in services in the last quarter to address the budget overruns in hospitals?

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