Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The plan outlined by the Minister of State is not ambitious enough in terms of the number of additional procedures that will be carried out in 2018 and 2019. I am disappointed with the reply. I accept the Minister of State is only setting out the facts but as I said the plan is not ambitious enough.

Let us deal with the facts. This morning, the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, circulated its list for the period up to 29 June 2017, which shows that there are 49,711 awaiting ophthalmology procedures. That is an enormous task. The Minister of State referred in his reply to an additional 3,000 procedures being carried out and to the elimination of lists. The Government has not even considered the ongoing additions to that list. We cannot predict additional need but we can categorically say that, as of today, there are 49,000 plus people on the waiting list. As I said, the Minister's plan is not ambitious enough and it is not good enough. I ask that the Minister of State convey that to the Minister.

I can assure the Minister of State that following the summer recess I will raise this matter monthly until it is addressed, and I expect other Senators and Deputies to do likewise. There is no comfort in this plan for the 49,000 plus people who are awaiting treatment under what was supposed to be a ramped up scheme. It is disappointing.