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

The particular initiative that has occurred in the last few months is additional capacity, where possible, within the public system and the outsourcing of some patients to the private sector, where they were waiting more than 18 months. On the outpatient waiting list figures, there are about 50,000 people waiting for orthopaedic treatment, but the largest single category within that are waiting less than three months, some 16,000 people. Approximately 9,800 are waiting three to six months and 14,000 are waiting between six and 12 months. The number waiting over two years is much lower, but any of those should have been picked up in the last few weeks and should have appointments by now, if they do not already. If the Deputy knows of cases of people waiting over 18 months, I would be interested to see them. If the Deputy wants to pass them on to my office, we will certainly check them out, because that should not be the case at this stage.

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