Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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353. To ask the Minister for Health the amount drawn down from the National Treatment Purchase Fund by month in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27921/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Improving access to Scheduled Care and reducing waiting time for patients for hospital operations and procedures is a key priority for Government. The year-on-year increases to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) since Budget 2017 reflect this priority and Budget 2020 saw the funding of the NTPF increase by €25million to €100million.

Furthermore, since 2017, the Department, HSE and NTPF have been collaborating to identify initiatives to improve waiting times for patients, and the NTPF works with the hospital system to provide additionality to improve access to inpatient/day case procedures and outpatient appointments.

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the amount drawn down by month by the NTPF in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020 is provided in the attached table.

National Treatment Purchase Fund Draw Down of Funds by Month at end September 2020