Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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765. To ask the Minister for Health when a cataract operation will be allocated to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5118/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

The National Waiting List Management Policy, a standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, since January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.

The HSE has advised my Department that, in line with the National Action Plan on COVID-19, there has been a significant reduction in all non-urgent elective scheduled care activity since March. This was to ensure that all appropriate resources, both physical and human, were made available for COVID-19 related activity. The HSE continues to adhere to the best clinical guidance and NPHET’s recommendations, which have now approved the careful re-commencement of scheduled care activity based on strict criteria to ensure the continued provision of safe, patient-centred care to non-Covid patients. Importantly, time-critical essential work continues throughout the system in line with the National Action Plan, the HSE Model of Care, and World Health Organisation recommendations.

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

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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766. To ask the Minister for Health the status of an assessment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5123/20]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.

As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.