Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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361. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a report from an association (details supplied) that it is 50% cheaper for a person to be seen in his or her community than in tertiary care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39544/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the pre-budget submission and the Better Eye-care for All report of the association(details supplied).

The HSE published the Report of the Primary Care Eye Services Review Group in June 2017. The overall aim of the Review is to reorganise primary care eye services with an increased emphasis on maximising delivery of a comprehensive service at primary care level, thereby also releasing capacity in the acute sector to provide more complex services. This reflects Government policy, which aims to maximise the proportion of people's healthcare needs met in the community.

To support the implementation of the Report, funding of €1m was allocated in 2018 to establish primary care eye teams in South and West Dublin and to further develop the primary care eye team in North Dublin to help alleviate waiting lists.

The level of funding available for my Department for 2019 is being considered as part of the Estimates and budgetary process which is currently underway.