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

What has happened at Naas is similar to what has happened in other hospitals, in that there was a waiting list initiative to ensure that no one was waiting for longer than 18 months for a routine appointment. That initiative was delivered successfully in almost all hospitals across the State by July. By August and September, though, people had breached the 18-month period again. That is why additional finance has been provided to undertake the initiative again and to target in particular people who have been waiting for longer than 15 months for routine appointments.

I am not involved in the day-to-day management of Tallaght hospital. It is a statutory hospital with its own board and CEO. It is short a number of specialists and is experiencing difficulties with space for clinics and with capacity in general.

See this speech in context