Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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181. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide the additional resources necessary (detail supplied) to address the unacceptable waiting times for cataract surgeries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21436/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for a Partnership Government commits to €15m funding for the NTPF in 2017 to address waiting lists for those waiting longest, as part of a continued investment of €50m per year to reduce waiting times. My Department is currently engaging with the NTPF and the HSE to deliver on the Programme's waiting list commitments.

Improving waiting times for planned or scheduled care for all patients is a key priority for the HSE, my Department and for the Government. To this end a Scheduled Care Governance Group has been established in the HSE to coordinate key initiatives to reduce waiting times and the number of patients awaiting treatment. My Department is also engaging with the HSE regarding the development of an Action Plan to address waiting times. Individual hospitals will be required to develop process improvement plans which will focus on improving chronological scheduling, validating waiting lists and ensuring that existing capacity is optimised and maximised. The Action Plan will be implemented over the remainder of 2016.

In relation to the individual question 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.