Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Independent)
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565. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide the most recent figures for the numbers waiting to access neurological services here; his plans to address these waiting lists; his future plans for the development of neurological services here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39820/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Immediately following my appointment, I established the Special Delivery Unit, as set out in the Programme for Government. The aim of the SDU is to unblock access to acute services by improving the flow of patients through the system. For 2013, as set out in the HSE Service Plan, the targets include that no adult should wait longer than eight months for an inpatient or daycase procedure and no-one longer than 12 months for a first-time outpatient appointment. These targets apply across all specialties, including neurology. The Special Delivery Unit is now engaged in a national intervention strategy to work towards the 2013 maximum wait times. This involves working closely with hospitals to analyse performance, to agree action plans and extra support as necessary and to ensure hospital capacity is being optimised.

With regard to the development of neurological services, the HSE's National Clinical Programme for Neurology is one of a suite of National Clinical Care Programmes which provide a national, strategic and co-ordinated approach to a wide range of clinical services. The programmes have three main objectives – to improve the quality of care, to improve access and to improve cost/value, effectiveness.

In relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matter they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.