Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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498. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Sligo will receive an appointment in Beaumont Hospital. [33033/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Improving access to outpatient services is a key priority for the Government. Collaborating with individual hospitals, the SDU, together with the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) and the HSE, has developed the outpatient waiting list minimum dataset. This allows data to be submitted to the NTPF from hospitals on a weekly basis and, for the first time, outpatient data is available on www.ntpf.ie. For 2013, a maximum waiting time target has been set of 12 months for a first time consultant-led outpatient appointment and this is reflected in the HSE service plan. The SDU and the NTPF will work closely with hospitals towards achievement of the maximum waiting time. In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, regarding an appointment in Beaumont Hospital, as this is a service issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.