Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 155: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she is aware that waiting times for eye tests for children at Maynooth health centre and Naas health centre, County Kildare have increased from eight months to 15 months and seven months to 12 months respectively in each health centre since April 2007; and if she will immediately sanction the provision of additional optical clinics at each health centre to reduce waiting times. [31590/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Child health examinations are provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to children under 6 years of age and children attending national school in accordance with Section 66 of the Health Act, 1970. Under Section 67 of that Act, such children are eligible for HSE ophthalmic services in respect of problems noted at child health examinations.

As the Health Service Executive has the operational and funding responsibility for Primary Care services, it is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.