Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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370. To ask the Minister for Health to set down the emergency department waiting times greater than 24 hours for persons over 75 years of age in 2018; if the targets were met; if not, the number of persons over 75 years of age who have had a wait of more than 24 hours in an emergency department to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46784/18]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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371. To ask the Minister for Health to set out the number of persons aged 75 years of age or over who experienced an emergency department waiting time of more than 24 hours in 2017 and to date in 2018; the hospital in which this occurred by month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46785/18]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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372. To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE target of eliminating emergency department waiting times of greater than 24 hours for persons over 75 years of age was met to date in 2018; the number of persons over 75 years of age who have had to wait for more than 24 hours in an emergency department to date 2018; the hospital in which the wait occurred in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46786/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 370 to 372, inclusive, together.

I fully acknowledge the distress overcrowded Emergency Departments (EDs) cause to patients, their families and frontline staff working in very challenging working conditions in hospitals throughout the country.

Reflecting the demographic pressures associated with the growth in our aging population, this year has been characterised by high demand for unscheduled care, particularly among the over-75 age group. Patients in this age group are the highest users of most health and social care services, have more complex needs, and have longer stays in our Acute Hospitals.

I recognise that hospitals are increasingly operating at or above capacity, with year-round demand pressures that are further challenged over the winter months. However, the National Service Plan 2018 includes an expected activity target that 100% of patients aged 75 and over are discharged or admitted within 24 hours of registration. Therefore, any breach of this target in respect of patients in this age cohort is unacceptable.

In relation to the particular queries raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.