Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I raise the eye care report card for 2019, which features the results of an eye care survey carried out by the Association of Optometrists Ireland. In Carlow-Kilkenny, children who are referred to HSE eye clinics must wait for 14 months for an eye examination which could be carried out immediately by optometrists in the community.

Good vision is essential for children to participate and benefit from education. The early years of visual development are key to ensuring that children do not have developmental problems that will restrict their ability to achieve their potential. Children’s eyesight develops from birth and as children grow so quickly, their eyesight can change rapidly. While a small number of children develop serious conditions that require medical intervention and supervision, the majority who develop issues with their eyesight can be managed with regular eye examinations and prescriptions of spectacles. However, early identification and management of children at risk of having a lazy eye or squint are compromised by the large number of children who need spectacles on the current waiting list for service. In addition, the HSE has made a decision to abolish the sixth class vision screening and has not yet put in place a national policy to replace this. This has been done for funding reasons. Children over the age of eight should be seen in the community by optometrists and this policy should be implemented on a national basis. This policy would reduce such unnecessary delay.

Cataract surgery is a life-changing procedure that can restore the sight of elderly people, giving them back their independence and reducing the cost of preventable sight loss to the Exchequer, family members and carers. Despite the merits of this operation, according to the report, people with cataracts in my constituency who are referred to a hospital's eye service due to reduced vision are waiting on average 29 months to have surgery to restore their sight. Those who can afford to pay for the operation must only wait three months, whereas those without money to pay for it must wait 29 months. While use of the National Treatment Purchase Fund can reduce waiting lists in the short term, it does not address the systematic inefficiencies in the system we have in place. We need to address these issues and bring back the scheme that was in place.

I support Senator Mullen's request that the Taoiseach clarify the unacceptable comments he made yesterday. He must clarify exactly what he meant by them.