Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like Deputy Curran, I do not approach this from an ideological viewpoint. I very much see the NTPF as an agency that should be seen as an access fund and a way of making sure we can have ring-fenced budgets to ensure our patients can get more timely access to treatment, be it inpatient or outpatient. I am ambitious when it comes to seeing the NTPF extend its remit to outpatients. We need to do this in a careful way and that we make sure that if it is outsourced, they look after the entire episode of care so that someone is not just seen on an outpatient list and then referred back to a public hospital list for an inpatient procedure.

I agree with the Deputy with regard to the assessment of needs issue. As the Deputy is aware, we have funding in budget 2019 that the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, will reflect in the service plan for 100 additional therapist posts. I certainly do not rule out looking at other ways of using the NTPF if it can be helpful.

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