Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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842. To ask the Minister for Health when the review of the national clinical programme for ophthalmology will commence; if private community optometrists will have an opportunity to make submissions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6411/25]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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In 2017, the Health Service Executive (HSE) published a National Clinical Programme for Ophthalmology, which set out a model of care regarding how the realignment of eye services from an acute hospital setting to the community would be undertaken.

The HSE has been developing multidisciplinary Integrated Eye Care Teams in accordance with this model of care. These teams facilitate assessment, diagnoses, management and treatment and in some cases pre-op/post-op care enabling most patients to be seen in their own locality. Where necessary, patients can be referred onwards to acute Ophthalmology services to receive the necessary specialist input.

The HSE advise that Integrated Eye Care Teams continue to be rolled out nationally. Community ophthalmic waiting lists have been substantially reduced in each area in which these teams have been introduced. Work is underway to establish further teams and to expand those teams that exist.

The new Programme for Government: Securing Ireland’s Future contains a commitment to review the National Clinical Programme for Ophthalmology to ensure more eye services are provided in the community. The Department will, in the first instance, engage with the HSE in respect of this review.