Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy mentioned three people, namely, an 85 year old man, a 70 year old and a 62 year old. They are all people whom the Deputy knows, which is why he is raising the cases. The figures are very important. It is true to say the moneys given to the health Vote this year are higher than ever before, and responsibility for this has been transferred back into the Department for Health so transparency and accountability can follow. I do not know whether the Deputy has met with the director of services for home help in Kerry and asked whether the service is aware of the situation whereby people have been left at weekends without home help. I also do not know whether the Deputy has met with the medical personnel dealing with the waiting list for cataract operations in Kerry and pointed out the Sligo model. These are all qualified medical people who make decisions on these matters. Yes, there has been a waiting list, and there should not be, and it is not right that people cannot watch their favourite television programme or read their local paper, but the situation has improved and I will send the Deputy the figures. We will bring to the attention of the medically qualified people in Kerry who deal with orthodontics the success of the Sligo model, but they know this already.

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