Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. The Minister and I appreciate that access to appropriate and timely optical services is a concern for many residents of Cork and Kerry. This is the second time I have answered on this. I assure the Deputy that ophthalmology is a priority issue for the Minister and his Department in 2023. He wants to see reform in this area to ensure people receive the service they require. I mentioned the HSE in my response and said that funding is an issue. Perhaps the fact that the service plan has not been signed off on or has not yet been completed and handed over to the HSE means that is the parcel it is awaiting. Reform in the area includes making the best use of the skills of many talented optical clinicians who live and work in Ireland. The Minister accepts that recruitment continues to be an issue and is liaising with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science with the intention of seeking an increase in the number of professionals trained in optical services. This will be needed, along with targeted recruitment, to increase capacity in the healthcare system and, looking forward, he is eager to see the expansion of community-based care. This will require increased integration between hospital and primary care providers. Success will depend on innovative, effective models of care that make the most of our resources. The collaborative work on the Cork-Kerry regional eye care service has been impressive. This progress offers reassurance that other such patient-centred services can be established in the future. Departmental officials will continue to liaise with Cork Kerry Community Healthcare to monitor the progress of the proposed eye care service.

My take away from what the Deputy said relates to the financial viability of community opticians and the role they can play. Perhaps it is something we should look for in CHO areas without such specialist teams.

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