Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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1427. To ask the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) is eligible for the National Treatment Purchase Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26069/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for a Partnership Government emphasises the need for sustained commitment to improving waiting times for patients, with a particular focus on those patients waiting longest. It commits to €15m funding to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) in 2017 for an initiative targeted at those waiting longest as part of continued investment of €50m per year to reduce waiting lists. The Department of Health is working closely with the HSE and the NTPF to develop specific initiatives focused on reducing acute hospital waiting lists in 2017 in accordance with the Programme for a Partnership Government’s commitments. There is currently no initiative focusing on patients awaiting dental surgery under general anaesthetic. These services are provided in an acute hospital setting following a referral from the Public Dental Service of the HSE.

With regard to the individual concerned, I have asked the HSE to investigate this matter and respond to the Deputy.