Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question and for raising the issue of ophthalmology. He is quite right that the numbers are very high. The figure of 2,361 in University Hospital Waterford in CHO 5 is correct. Currently there is a new theatre being fitted out in respect of ophthalmology. The Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, has also made available €350 million this year coupled with the €50 million already in place for the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, for waiting list initiatives. The details are being worked out at the moment. What the Minister is hoping to achieve is that anybody waiting six months by the end of this year will receive the treatment they need.

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