Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is more than welcome. I have a Commencement matter about the ophthalmology services in the Cork-Kerry region. I am looking for an update on the proposed theatres in the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital and the proposed outpatients department in Ballincollig. The ophthalmology services in our region have, unfortunately, been poor for a considerable time. At the moment there is a waiting list of more than 4,500 people, of whom 2,469, unfortunately, have been waiting more than a year for an appointment. There is very much a need for a comprehensive service on the ground. Works have been put in place over the past three years in particular to make sure capital infrastructure is in place to build on where we are going. That capital infrastructure involves two theatres in the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, which have been constructed, and a major complex that has been built in Ballincollig, which is an outpatients centre. These are two significant developments for the region. When these two are fully staffed and operational, that will be the solution to this problem going forward.

However, this matter is about trying to get clarity on the staffing levels and where we are with staff. The Minister, on 6 December, gave an assurance that funding had been released for the appointment of surgeons for the theatres in the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, which is a really important part of this matter. We need to make sure we get the consultants and surgeons who are required to man the service that is being put in place. I am looking for an update on that 6 December announcement by the Minister that he had released funding, to know where we are in that recruitment programme. Have appropriate candidates been lined up? Is there a timeline? When will surgeons commence operations on that complex in order that we can have these two wonderful brand-new theatres brought into full use?

In regard to the outpatients centre, which is an amazing complex at Ballincollig in the primary care centre, it is proposed that 35 staff will be required. This will cover the entire region of Cork-Kerry. It is a significant development. This is about trying to make sure we can get the staff in place sooner rather than later to have the service up and running. We need to make sure that we have both the outpatients centre and the theatres working in tandem in order that the current list of 4,500 people can be brought down dramatically. It is all about recruitment. I realise there are significant pressures in recruitment and trying to attract international consultants is a struggle. The need for this region to have qualified, trained and appropriate staff to man both complexes is important. I appeal for an update on when the surgeons will take over and when we will have work on the ground to open the theatres.

In addition the outpatient clinic is a significant development. Having 35 people based in Ballincollig for this service will surely have a huge knock-on impact on this waiting list. Will the Minister of State provide an update on those two issues and enlighten both myself and the House on how these are developing?