Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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133. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will receive an appointment for eye cataract surgery; the reason the person has so far had three appointments scheduled, cancelled and re-scheduled; the guarantee that will be provided that the latest appointment, re-scheduled for 2016, will not be cancelled yet again; the reason this person has been forced to suffer the indignity of having been offered this procedure three times in the private sector with immediate scheduling by the same consultant whose appointments have been cancelled in the public sector three times, at a cost in excess of €3000, which sum this person has no access to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36807/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

In relation to the specific case raised, 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.