Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
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402. To ask the Minister for Health the total amount spent by the HSE on the Waiting List Action Plan in 2022, 2023, 2024, and projected for 2025; a breakdown of that spending per HSE or National Treatment Purchase Fund, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22984/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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It is acknowledged that many patients are still waiting too long for hospital appointments and treatments. I am conscious of the burden this places on patients and their families.

A multi-annual approach through a series of Waiting List Action Plans has been adopted to address this issue. Commencing in late 2021, these plans encompass short-term actions to increase capacity and activity in the short and immediate term, and longer-term reform measures to sustainably reduce both hospital waiting lists and waiting times.

This approach has achieved significant progress in overall waiting list reduction and in addressing long waiting times, against a backdrop of significantly increased demand for scheduled care services

In 2022, €350 million was allocated to address waiting lists through the Waiting List Action Plan (WLAP), €200 million for the HSE and €150 million to the NTPF.

In 2023, the corresponding figure was €363 million. This included €213 million in funding for the HSE and €150 million to the NTPF to procure additional capacity to reduce waiting lists.

In 2024, €360 million was allocated for the WLAP, funding of €181 million for the HSE and €179 million for the NTPF.

I published the WLAP for 2025 on February 12th, representing continuation of this Government’s commitment and continued investment to reducing waiting times for patients and improving access to hospital care.

In keeping with this commitment, significant funding of €420m was allocated to the Waiting List Action Plan for 2025, €190m for the HSE and €230m for the NTPF.

With the 2025 plan, we are continuing to build upon the progress delivered to date under the multi annual action plan approach.