David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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382. To ask the Minister for Health if he is aware that 80% of blindness incidence is preventable and that five persons per week became blind here in the years 2013 to 2016; if he agrees that investment in cost effective interventions can reduce economic costs; if he is committed to the development and full implementation of a comprehensive national vision strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16904/16]

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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389. To ask the Minister for Health if he has received correspondence from an organisation (details supplied) which is seeking the development of a strategic approach to the planning and provision of vision health services here; if he will consider the development and implementation of a comprehensive national vision strategy for Ireland; his plans to address these issues at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16961/16]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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426. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to develop and implement a comprehensive national vision strategy as advocated by the National Vision Coalition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17182/16]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 382, 389 and 426 together.

The Government is committed to providing and developing vision services and supports through health prevention, screening and intervention policies and programmes, all of which contribute to address the priority goal of the World Health Organisation's Vision 2020, namely to eliminate avoidable blindness. The health service is addressing the prevention of eye disease and blindness across the broad range of health services including acute, primary and community based services.

The aim of the National Clinical Programme for Ophthalmology is to ensure equitable and high quality care for ophthalmic patients and to minimise the incidence of needless blindness. The Programme has devised a high level strategy for the delivery of eye care and is of the view that a community based model is most appropriate. This is supportive of the aims of the Primary Care Eye Services Review Group, which was established by the Health Service Executive's Primary Care Division. This Review Group is currently preparing an implementation plan to support its Review. The overall aim of the Review Group is to shift the management of many eye conditions from acute care services to primary care and community services, as appropriate. The Programme for Partnership Government is committed to updating the national eye care plan, including evaluation of the Sligo model for cataract surgery.

People with disabilities, including blind and visually-impaired people, can access specialist disability services, which are provided in a variety of community and residential settings. These may be provided directly by the HSE or in partnership with voluntary service providers such as the National Council for the Blind and the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind.

I have received correspondence from Fighting Blindness in relation to these matters, which I intend to consider in the context of the implementation of the Health commitments in the Programme for Partnership Government and having regard to the funding available to facilitate such measures.