Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The figures I gave the Deputy earlier related to the time it takes to get assessed. In fact, HSE Dublin north east is better than Dublin mid-Leinster. One is assessed more quickly in the former but gets to the treatment stage more slowly. Of the 4,000 cases in HSE mid-Leinster, only 87 have been waiting more than two years whereas 748 of the 3,786 cases in HSE Dublin north east have been waiting for more than two years. However the Deputy's point is well made. It is right to give people the option to travel a certain distance to get better treatment but we should allow parents to make an informed choice as to how long they may have two weight if they do not accept the offer of going to another location. It is certainly something I will take up with the dental section of the HSE. That is a fair point.

I note, however, that no matter where one draws the boundaries, there will always be some issues. As politicians who deal with constituency boundaries, we know that well. There will be people who live in parts of Meath who are just as close to Dundalk as they are to Ashtown Gate. The offer to go to Dundalk may even be more convenient for them. That is just the nature of boundaries and catchment areas.

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