Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, there is a budget again for the NTPF. I indicated previously that hundreds of appointments would be made for patients so that they can benefit from treatment. Notice of those appointments has begun to issue. Over 300 patients have received appointments. The process in this regard will continue and accelerate in the coming weeks and months. In the meantime, as the Deputy will be aware, other initiatives are being taken by the Minister for Health. He has access to the largest budget ever in the history of the State. Of course, there is increasing demand on health services but it is important to note that almost 1.69 million patients received inpatient or day-case treatment in our hospitals in 2016, an increase of almost 40,000 on the previous year.

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