Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. That is a comprehensive reply and I note the fact that work is being done. The Estimates process is coming to its conclusion now so, hopefully, we will see some resources identified for this. I would like to see the strategy launched, if possible, in the lifetime of this Government but certainly committed to by the various parties in their manifestos. Hopefully, it will be something committed to in the programme for Government with whoever makes up the combination that will run the country for the next number of years.

I believe strategies work. I have long been calling for a national strategy for the elimination of preventable blindness because four out of five people who suffer sight loss do so unnecessarily. There are unfortunately 20% who just go blind and nothing can be done about it. There is a great number of people who go blind and suffer severe sight loss and do not need to. If they just checked their eyes once every two years, that would be incredible. The number of people between 40 and 60 years of age who only check their eyes when they need to get a driving licence and then discover that they have a problem is phenomenal. The same is the case when it comes to this particular issue. If there was screening, we would see a dramatic reduction in the number of people who suffer from this condition.