Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on statistics published in a newspaper (details supplied) which showed long waiting times for out-patients appointments for public patients; her plans to reduce these times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2709/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The management of out-patient waiting lists is a matter for the Health Service Executive and the individual hospitals concerned. My Department has asked the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the details contained in the relevant newspaper article. I might add that in 2005, at my request, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) set up an out-patient pilot programme. Under the programme 4,500 patients were provided with out-patient appointments in 2005. The following year 6,250 patients were provided and a further 10,672 in 2007. The NTPF expects to provide a further 13,500 out-patients appointments in 2008