Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 68: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position in relation to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; if they will be seen as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5702/08]

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 (HSE) and the individual hospitals concerned. The HSE is therefore the appropriate body to consider the particular case raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

In 2005, at my request, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) set up a number of out-patient pilot projects. Public hospitals are invited by the NTPF to participate in the out-patient pilot scheme to treat public patients who are waiting longest for first time appointments with a consultant. NTPF is currently accepting and agreeing proposals from public hospitals for 2008. It is planned that up to 13,500 out patient appointments will be offered this year under the scheme.