Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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43. To ask the Minister for Health having regard to the number of patients on waiting lists awaiting treatment for a longer period than acceptable in each of the past ten years to date, to indicate the specific reasons which continue to contribute to long waiting lists for various procedures, often resulting in severe discomfort and risk for patients; if this issue is attributed to inadequate staffing levels, accommodation or a combination of both; if he will set out his priorities to address these issues in the short to medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42887/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Improving waiting times for scheduled care for patients is a key priority for the Government. In January, I put in place maximum permissible waiting times for in-patient and day case treatment and outpatient appointments of 18 months by 30 June and 15 months by year end.

The HSE was provided with additional funding of €51m to ensure that these maximum waiting times would be achieved. In June, the HSE reported a performance against the 18 month maxima of 99.6% for in-patient/day cases (IP/DC) and 92% for out-patients (OPD).

There are personnel and structural challenges which impact on individual specialties and hospital sites. The impact of ED escalation policies, which require the cancellation of non-essential surgery in order to safely manage demand and capacity, may pose a further challenge which cannot be accurately predicted in advance.

However, the latest NTPF figures, published on Friday 6 November, continue to show improvements. There are reductions in the total In-patient/Daycase waiting list, and in the numbers of patients waiting between 15-18 months and waiting over 18 months. Outpatient improvements are also evident, with a reduction of almost 5,000 in the overall outpatient waiting lists and of over 3,000 in the number of people waiting between 15-18 months for appointments

This is very positive, as it is the first time that we have seen reductions in all three key categories.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, United Left)
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44. To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether patients waiting for spinal, hip and knee surgery should be placed on shorter maximum-permissible waiting lists for inpatient and day case treatment, and outpatient appointments of three months in any hospital [42901/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Improving waiting times for scheduled care for patients is a key priority for the Government. In January, I put in place maximum permissible waiting times for in-patient and day case treatment and outpatient appointments of 18 months by 30 June and 15 months by year end. The HSE was provided with additional funding of €51m to ensure that these maximum waiting times would be achieved. In June, the HSE reported a performance against the 18 month maxima of 99.6% for in-patient/day cases (IP/DC) and 92% for out-patients (OPD).

The latest NTPF figures, published on Friday 6 November, continue to show improvements. There are reductions in the total In-patient/Daycase waiting list, and in the numbers of patients waiting between 15-18 months and waiting over 18 months. Outpatient improvements are also evident, with a reduction of almost 5,000 in the overall outpatient waiting lists and of over 3,000 in the number of people waiting between 15-18 months for appointments. However it is recognised that there are personnel and structural challenges which impact on individual specialties and hospital sites. The impact of ED escalation policies, which require the cancellation of non-essential surgery in order to safely manage demand and capacity, may pose a further challenge which cannot be accurately predicted in advance.

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.