Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In the negotiations and discussions we had about the formation of a Government, it was agreed, indeed at the Deputy's own suggestion, that the National Treatment Purchase Fund would be restored. The restoration was costing €20 million for 2017, rising to €55 million for 2018. It is not true to say that nothing is happening. The NTPF has now commenced the initiative of €5 million for the day case waiting initiative which was approved last December. It is expected that in excess of 2,000 patients will receive treatment under this initiative. They will thus be off that waiting list.

In respect of the outpatient waiting list, it is estimated that there are more than 190,000 patients who fall into this category. The plan sets a target to remove over 50% of these from the waiting list, that is, in excess of 95,000 patients. That represents around 5,000 extra patients or a 5% increase in activity since last year in that particular patient cohort.

In respect of the NTPF and the inpatient day case waiting list action plan, we hope to have 39,000 persons treated by the end of October. The plan sets a target to remove 75% of these patients from the waiting lists, that is, more than 29,000 patients between the normal hospital service plan funded activity, as well as insourcing and outsourcing initiatives utilising the remaining €10 million of the budget for 2017. The money is being spent and is making serious inroads into the numbers, as I have already outlined, on the initiatives undertaken by it.

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