Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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759. To ask the Minister for Health the action that the Health Service Executive is taking to reduce the waiting lists in Health Service Executive-run hospitals in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30570/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Improving waiting lists for scheduled care is a priority for Government. In January, taking into account current pressures on acute hospital services, I put in place a maximum permissible waiting times for inpatient and day case treatment and outpatient appointments of 18 months by 30 June and 15 months by year end.

In June, the HSE reported a performance against the 18 month maxima of 99.6% for IP/DC and 92% for OPD. In order to maintain progress and to make further improvements to achieve a 15 month maxima by end December, the HSE has directed that hospitals which breach the 18 month maximum waiting time in August are to be fined. The fines will be calculated on the basis of the Activity Based Funding cost of each procedure and are being imposed from 1 September.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.