Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for this information which is positive and helpful. I acknowledge there has been some movement on the matter. A great deal of the resources have been put into the NTPF which is a good move. My party pressed to have it included in the last budget. However, I am concerned that the NTPF is dealing with waiting lists, which is short term. Is a long term solution being put in place to prevent the lists growing further? The number of people waiting in Cork has doubled in the last two years, from over 250 to almost 500. Even if there is any small reduction in the figure, one is still only treading water. We need to know that a long term solution is in place for people going on those waiting lists. It seriously impacts people's quality of life. Take Dan Joe who came into my office who has had to stop driving because he is unable to move his foot and Chris has been waiting for over a year and a half. Many of these people are being told that they will have to wait 18 months to two years. I acknowledge the Minister's commitment but these are people who have received recent responses from the HSE. Is the HSE aware of the Minister's target?

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