Vol. 411 No. 2
58 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health whether sufficient resources are available for ear, nose and throat surgery in Temple Street Hospital, Dublin 1; if he has satisfied himself that the necessary resources are available to the hospital to meet and provide the ENT services; and if he will outline current waiting lists for ENT operations.
I allocated additional resources to tackle the waiting lists for ENT procedures at the Children's Hospital, Temple Street. As a result, I am glad to say that significant progress has been made in reducing the overall ENT waiting list for admission. A total of 1,576 ENT cases were treated in 1990 compared to 1,172 treated in 1989 — an increase of 34 per cent; 1,171 cases have been treated in the first nine months of this year. As a result of this increased activity, the ENT waiting list has decreased by 1,074 from 1,228 in November 1989 to 154 in September 1991.
My Department and the Children's Hospital will continue to regard ENT services as a priority in the allocation of resources within the hospital.
