Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is absolutely correct. I have outlined the breadth of health service provision for people with visual impairment. The State's objectives in providing ophthalmic care include the elimination of avoidable sight loss; a focus on prevention and early intervention; equitable access to efficient high quality care, supports and treatment; to improve the quality of care; and improve cost effectiveness. The Government remains committed to the provision and development of vision services and supports through prevention, screening and intervention, all of which contribute to address the priority goal of Vision 20/20 which is to eliminate avoidable blindness in Ireland. I commend the Deputy on her emphasis on the importance of a national strategy and the importance of it being addressed in the way she has outlined. The Minister and I share her objectives in that regard and I thank her for raising the matter.

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