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

It is important to point out that the total cross-departmental budget for the drugs programme was reduced consistently throughout the period of the recession. It was reduced in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and again in 2013. In 2014 in was increased from €237.5 million to €240 million and this year it is being increased again. When we had a dedicated Minister of State with responsibility for this area the budget was cut every year. Now that we have a dedicated Minister who is a senior Minister in the Department the budget is being increased. That may be lost on people, but when one controls the entire budget it is much easier to move small amounts of money into priority areas, which is what I have done.

Some 97% of those who are waiting on treatment will receive it within weeks, which is a very short waiting list compared to some of the waiting times that people may face in other areas. If people require treatment they can get it within weeks in almost all cases.

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